Reforming Indigenous Health in Medical Education: Medical School Accreditation as a Targeted Policy Initiative

MedEdPublish, 2016

9 Pages Posted: 29 Apr 2018

See all articles by Shaun Ewen

Shaun Ewen

University of Melbourne

Odette Mazel

University of Melbourne - Melbourne School of Population and Global Health; University of Melbourne - Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences; University of Melbourne, Law School, Students

Jenny Barrett

University of Melbourne

Karin Oldfield

Australian Medical Council

Theanne Walters

Australian Medical Council

Date Written: 2016

Abstract

Aim: The accreditation of medical schools is a key leadership role for the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and its counterparts in other jurisdictions. The aim of our research was to identify how the inclusion of Indigenous health in the accreditation standards has influenced the reporting of activity related to Indigenous health in medical schools.

Method: A bi-national review was conducted of the AMC reporting of Indigenous health education initiatives against the accreditation standards from January 2007 to December 2014. Also reviewed was the AMC monitoring of medical schools that occurs via schools’ Comprehensive Reports and Progress Reports.

Results: The study showed that the inclusion of Indigenous-specific standards leads to specific reporting on aspects related to Indigenous peoples in accreditation assessments and monitoring of medical school programs. Where areas in the accreditation standards did not include Indigenous-specific requirements, AMC reporting was unlikely to mention Indigenous matters.

Conclusions: The continuing commitment by the AMC – and comparable bodies in other jurisdictions – to assessing medical education programs against specific Indigenous health standards, represents significant leadership in educating a medical workforce committed to ongoing improvement of Indigenous peoples’ health.

Keywords: Indigenous health, Accreditation, Medical Education, Reform

Suggested Citation

Ewen, Shaun and Mazel, Odette and Mazel, Odette and Barrett, Jenny and Oldfield, Karin and Walters, Theanne, Reforming Indigenous Health in Medical Education: Medical School Accreditation as a Targeted Policy Initiative (2016). MedEdPublish, 2016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2981492

Shaun Ewen

University of Melbourne ( email )

185 Pelham Street
Carlton, Victoria 3053
Australia

Odette Mazel (Contact Author)

University of Melbourne - Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences ( email )

Australia

University of Melbourne - Melbourne School of Population and Global Health ( email )

4/207 Bouverie Street
Parkville, Victoria
Australia

University of Melbourne, Law School, Students ( email )

University Square
185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Victoria, Victoria
Australia

Jenny Barrett

University of Melbourne ( email )

185 Pelham Street
Carlton, Victoria 3053
Australia

Karin Oldfield

Australian Medical Council

Australia

Theanne Walters

Australian Medical Council

Australia

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