Denise M. Dupras, M.D., Ph.D.

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SUMMARY

Denise M. Dupras, M.D., Ph.D., conducts research to improve medical education. Most recently, Dr. Dupras examined data from internal medicine program directors and residents to identify deficits in existing curricula to provide health disparities education in diverse patient populations.

Focus areas

• Improving health disparities education in internal medicine residency programs. In a cross-sectional study, Dr. Dupras and colleagues at Mayo Clinic and countrywide identified a lack of health disparities training in the current curricula of many internal medicine residency programs. Through data from two national surveys, they found that despite mandates from medical education governing bodies, only about 40% of surveyed residencies provide appropriate health disparities training. This research reveals an opportunity to promote health equality education for physicians at the resident training level, better preparing them to serve diverse client populations at the bedside.

Significance to patient care

Findings from Dr. Dupras' research highlight the need for physicians to receive better training in health disparities so they can provide appropriate care for underserved patient populations. Ultimately, this opportunity for institutional-level educational improvement initiatives could result in improved patient outcomes, especially for patients who are in minority, vulnerable, disadvantaged or underrepresented populations.