ABSTRACT
In medical research and practice, bias is often considered problematic and likely to introduce errors into clinical care. The culture of medicine, in other words, is often at odds with the idea of implicit bias among practitioners. As a result, much of the emphasis in medical education has been on avoiding bias and implementing clinical and research procedures that ensure objectivity and effective care. However, community-based practice requires a thorough understanding of patient perspectives, including bias and subjectivity. Bias, therefore, is not always problematic and may help shift power dynamics in the physician-patient relationship. In this chapter, we review why integrating an awareness of bias into community-based medical practice is essential, discuss some of the challenges presented by the culture of medicine, and suggest pedagogical interventions to integrate discussions of bias into community-based medical education. Although talking about bias may be uncomfortable for many students and medical educators, this activity is essential to effect change in medical settings and is a necessary step in promoting health equity.
