Dearborn Academy

This grant was born out of a passion project that aimed to create a shared sense of community and healing for professionals of color who seek to write about current events, personal reflections, or patient encounters. This course served as a powerful tool to amplify stories that have historically been silenced, encouraging healthcare providers to engage with narratives that resonate and challenge them within a safe space.

Through immersive workshops involving reading, writing, and meaningful discussions, Writing in Color facilitates collective and individual reflection, promotes personal and professional understanding, equips writers with the necessary tools to understand the publishing approach and fosters compassion for colleagues, and patients. The goal is to broaden the landscape of authors by focusing on teaching people of color who may need writing support and community.

In response to a growing need, the program expanded beyond medicine to bring the foundational aspect of the project to local high schools in and around Boston. Writing in Color – Dearborn Stem is a collaboration with local schools in Boston, specifically the Dearborn STEM Academy that hosts writing workshop for their Black and Hispanic college-bound students.  These workshops held twice a week are taught by the Writing in Color instructors, helping rising seniors curate impactful personal statements for their college essays.

Project Co-Lead

Farah Z. Dadabhoy, MD, MSC

Project Co-Lead

Adaira Landry, MD

Collaborators

Catalina Gonzalez-Marques, MD

A Collaboration between Brigham Health Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants and Minority Students from the Morehouse School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program

This project implemented a mentorship program between the Morehouse School of Medicine, a historically black college, and Brigham & Women's Hospital. Students were flown from Atlanta to Boston's campus and completed various rotations. They had the chance to network with PA (Physician Assistant) leadership during their stay, both on the BWH campus and our sister campus at Faulkner, giving them a robust introduction to the physician assistant field.

Project Co-Lead

Aline Snietka, MS, PA-C

Project Co-Lead

Jessica Britnell, MS, PA-C
(EM PA Director)

Collaborators

Andrew Dundin, MSN, RN, CEN; Anna Meyer, DNP, RN (Nurse Director); Antonina Theroux (BWH Recruitment, PA Services Diversity Committee)

A Mentorship Program to Groom Minority Candidates for a Physician Assistant Career Path

Research has shown that a diverse work environment in a hospital setting contributes to overall success by creating a patient and employee community that feels welcome and inclusive. Diversity in the health care workplace is heavily influenced by leadership implementing recruiting policies at an organizational level.

The Spark Grant recipients for Diversity & Inclusion will implement a mentorship program to introduce qualified minority candidates to the Physician Assistant (PA) career experience. Pre-PA candidates will have the opportunity to shadow a current Physician Assistant, receive direct supervision and guidance, and gain critical patient-care skills. The mentorship program will provide individuals from traditionally marginalized communities the chance to learn about different health care career paths and to develop a network of professional contacts. Spark Grant recipients hope to perform a longitudinal study to evaluate whether individuals who complete the mentorship program are successful in gaining acceptance to a healthcare-related program.

Project Co-Lead

Aline Snietka, MS, PA-C

Project Co-Lead

Jessica Britnell, MS, PA-C
(EM PA Director)

Collaborators

Andrew Dundin, MSN, RN, CEN; Anna Meyer, DNP, RN (Nurse Director); Antonina Theroux (BWH Recruitment, PA Services Diversity Committee)