Unpacking Implicit Bias: Fostering Inclusion in OT Fieldwork and Practice

Implicit bias, often overlooked yet pervasive in healthcare, plays a pivotal role in shaping students' fieldwork experiences. As students embark on gaining knowledge and insight into their profession, bias and systemic racism can create barriers that impact student experiences, professional development, and clinical reasoning skills. This interactive workshop is designed to empower fieldwork educators with the essential tools to recognize and mitigate the influence of implicit bias, with a focus on understanding the social and cultural realities of minoritized student and client populations. Join us as we foster an inclusive and supportive environment to engage in this necessary conversation.

Learning Objectives:

• Define implicit bias, explicit bias, and systemic racism, and explain their impact on occupational therapy (OT) clinical education. 
• Identify personal biases that may influence decision-making, student supervision, and client interactions in OT settings. 
• Recognize how racism and bias create barriers to equitable learning experiences OT fieldwork and education.
  

About the presenter: 

Dr. Tyra M. Banks, OTR/L, earned her MS in Occupational Therapy (OT) from Columbia University and her EdD in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Banks is currently the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine in the Programs in Occupational Therapy at Columbia University. She is an appointed member of the Anti-Racism for Medical Education Coalition and the Dean's Strategic Planning Clinical Working Group for Inclusion and Belonging. She has been a practicing clinician in pediatric settings for over 20 years. She is a member of the Roster of Accreditation Evaluators (RAE) of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). She was recently elected as a New York State Occupational Therapy Association Trustee. Dr. Banks has presented nationally and internationally on topics that center her current research interest area of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, as well as Anti-Racist Pedagogy in Higher Education