Michigan Medicine introduces new course on unconscious bias in hiring and selection

Approximately a 3-minute read

Key takeaways:

• New “Unconscious Bias in Staff Hiring and Selection” course for staff hiring aims to address unconscious biases in hiring decisions and promote an inclusive work environment.
• The 1.5-hour virtual session covers common biases, their impact on hiring decisions, and strategies for building conscious awareness, particularly in virtual interviewing environments.
• Sessions run through 2023, with registration and information available at Cornerstone Learning. Contact OHEI-Training@med.umich.edu for questions or additional information.

The Michigan Medicine Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI) has announced the launch of a new course called “Unconscious Bias in Staff Hiring and Selection” – OHEI-10001. This timely and essential training program aims to address the impact of unconscious biases on recruitment, selection and hiring to promote a more equitable and inclusive work environment among faculty, staff and house officers at Michigan Medicine.

The course, open to Michigan Medicine employees involved in staff hiring and search committees, is presented in a 1 hour and 30-minute, virtual/Zoom based, instructor-led session. It has been carefully designed to consider the current context within Michigan Medicine, allowing participants to explore common biases, identify how these biases can influence hiring decisions, and develop strategies for building conscious awareness during the selection and hiring processes.

The course covers a variety of important topics, including:

• Understanding the current context in which important hiring decisions are made.
• Exploring common biases and how they can impact hiring-related decisions.
• Discussing strategies for practicing conscious awareness in assessing selection and hiring workflows, with a focus on mitigating the unintended effects of bias in the hiring process, particularly in virtual interviewing environments.

This training program is led by OHEI, which is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment for staff, faculty and learners. The course’s primary objective is to encourage more equitable hiring practices and ensure that all potential candidates have a fair opportunity to join the Michigan Medicine community.

For more information about offerings or to sign up for the course, please visit Cornerstone Learning.

Sessions will run through November and upcoming dates include:

• Tuesday, April 18, 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Friday, May 26, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Friday, June 30, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• See the registration page for more

If you can’t find a time that works for you or have any questions, please contact: OHEI-Training@med.umich.edu

Michigan Medicine community members who are involved in faculty hiring and search committees can take the “Unconscious Bias in Faculty Hiring and Selection” workshop.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive work environment at Michigan Medicine.

Register now for the “Unconscious Bias in Staff Hiring and Selection” course and help pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future for all members of the Michigan Medicine community.