Bias in the mirror: exploring implicit bias in health professions education

Implicit biases include attitudes and behaviours exhibited by health professionals outside their awareness and despite their best intentions. Such biases can have a negative impact on equitable patient care. Bias in the Mirror describes five interconnected studies on implicit bias in health professionals. The dissertation found that when health professionals confront their biases, they experience powerful emotions. They want to better manage their biases, yet acknowledge that this process is inherently difficult. This thesis proposes that recognizing and managing implicit bias through education requires a balance between striving for self-improvement while accepting one’s flaws and vulnerabilities.