We asked Chantae Robinson, one of our Medical Learners, how she challenges bias in her work and what she hopes for young women, like herself, entering the field of Medicine. This is what she had to say.
“I challenge bias the same way I approach confrontations that are based on lack of understanding, miscommunication and ignorance - I approach it with love. Love covers a multitude of short-comings. Love encourages kindness, gentleness, peace, faithfulness and self-control. In a world where hardness, selfishness and greed are leading the thoughts of many people, engaging with the principles of love will position you to be open-minded, non-prejudicial and fair. Imagine a world where love dominates the thoughts, actions and motives of its citizens? It is possible, and I believe the best place to start is right where you are. To challenge bias, I demonstrate love everywhere I go and in everything I do. With faith, I believe that sharing love inspires others to let goodness and fairness take its natural advantage. Just as destructive qualities are contagious, so too is love, and when you lead with love, you are able to see and appreciate that every person has remarkable value and possesses a beautiful gift that is needed by the world. Bias clouds our judgement and results in the overall minimization of how we value others, and this causes many of the systemic downfalls we are facing today. I challenge bias by being an ambassador of grace.
For young women entering the medical field, it is my hope that they engage in self-discovery through a continuous fellowship and relationship with their source of life and wisdom. Self-discovery is the key to true fulfillment of purpose, and until you know who you are, what you can do, what you are here to do and where you are going, you will find yourself engaged in an internal battle and struggles throughout your career. I find that many young professionals spend more time focused on achieving academic and professional accreditation than they spend on understanding themselves. Your occupation should be an extension of your identity, and, until you understand this, your path forward will be cloudy and challenging. Make self-discovery a priority in your life.” ~ Chantae Robinson, Medical Learner