(246) Cross Sectional Study of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts of US PharmD Programs

Objective : To identify and categorize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts among US pharmacy schools' Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs using an adapted organizational framework of social accountability in education.

Methods: We searched 142 pharmacy schools’ websites for DEI goals, strategic plans, and climate/progress reports. We categorized DEI efforts using the framework’s indicators of context (eg, community health needs), inputs (eg, DEI in recruitment and hiring; community health profiles), processes (eg, community-focused education and training), products (eg, continuous quality improvement [CQI] of DEI efforts), and impacts (eg, community health risks and outcomes). PharmD programs were categorized as “higher DEI performers” if their efforts were aligned with the framework.

Results: Most pharmacy school websites (n=108, 76%) lacked DEI-related information, including most minority serving institution (MSI) pharmacy schools (n=21/22, 95%).

We identified 34 (24%) PharmD programs with DEI-related websites, strategic plans, and/or reports for analysis. These programs' goals varied from nonspecific recruitment and hiring practices to universally integrating DEI efforts. Most offered optional community service activities with minoritized individuals.

Sixteen (11%) PharmD programs were categorized as higher DEI performers. No programs described efforts to profile local community needs (context). All 16 programs described DEI efforts to increase diversity among stakeholders; some programs established student pipelines with MSIs (inputs). All programs plan or have ongoing efforts to prepare students to provide “equitable care” for minoritized patients (processes). Few pharmacy schools’ plans mentioned CQI (products), health policy, public health, antiracism, or social justice; none assessed their DEI efforts’ effects on community health status (impacts).

Conclusions: Most pharmacy school websites lack DEI effort information. More work is necessary across all PharmD programs to align efforts with the local community health needs of minoritized individuals.