{"id":1289,"date":"2020-09-28T17:16:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T17:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?p=1289"},"modified":"2025-09-04T12:29:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T20:29:53","slug":"make-yourself-comfortable-how-to-be-aware-of-your-implicit-biases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/make-yourself-comfortable-how-to-be-aware-of-your-implicit-biases","title":{"rendered":"Make Yourself Comfortable: How to Be Aware of Your Implicit Biases"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In This Article<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/make-yourself-comfortable-how-to-be-aware-of-your-implicit-biases\/#My_previously_held-biases\" >My previously held-biases<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/make-yourself-comfortable-how-to-be-aware-of-your-implicit-biases\/#Making_a_PACT_to_do_better\" >Making a PACT to do better<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/make-yourself-comfortable-how-to-be-aware-of-your-implicit-biases\/#Conversations_with_my_mentor\" >Conversations with my mentor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/make-yourself-comfortable-how-to-be-aware-of-your-implicit-biases\/#My_takeaways_from_volunteering\" >My takeaways from volunteering<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>\u201cI want to help people\u201d is a common response on a medical school application, but sometimes we experience trepidation when working within a new environment or group\u2014especially when we lack understanding of these groups. Read about how one medical student ventured outside of her comfort zone and overcame her biases to provide her community with better care. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moving from my parent\u2019s suburban home to the city of Baltimore was a big adjustment. In my suburban bubble, homelessness, substance use disorders, crime, and mental illness seemed like far-off problems; when I moved to Baltimore, I began to see them every day. I was immediately forced to confront my personal biases, and it wasn\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"My_previously_held-biases\"><\/span>My previously held-biases<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growing up I\u2019d been raised with certain preconceptions which I know were problematic. Living in the suburbs, I never felt comfortable giving my neighborhood panhandler loose change; I was told that \u201cthese people&#8221; are lazy and giving them money would simply fuel their addictions. Growing up with this idea, I formed the bias that exposed populations\u2014people without homes\u2014could not be trusted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/med-student-feeling-anxious.png\" alt=\"A medical student feeling anxious around an unhoused person.\" class=\"wp-image-1293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/med-student-feeling-anxious.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/med-student-feeling-anxious.png?resize=300,200 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I first moved to Baltimore, I often opted to take the long way home from the library so I could avoid the homeless woman with her dog begging for money. I clutched my pepper spray tightly in my pocket as I passed the disheveled man talking to himself. I remember feeling extremely uneasy when I was assigned to interview a man, who was homeless, during one of my clinical experiences. I questioned whether he would be a reliable historian. When he told me that his pain was \u201can 11 out of 10,\u201d I caught myself wondering if he just wanted narcotics. I even doubted his compliance with his current medication list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a small white woman, I even felt threatened by the diverse population of Baltimore that I had claimed to be so excited to work with in my medical school application. What would they think of me? Who was I to go in and tell them how to live their lives?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Making_a_PACT_to_do_better\"><\/span>Making a PACT to do better<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This attitude could not continue\u2014I knew I had to do better. Fortunately, my school curriculum came with some service learning requirements, which presented an opportunity to confront my discomfort and the biases stemming from it head-on. I signed up for volunteer activities, hoping they would help me become more empathetic to the situations of different demographics while making their lives a little easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I chose to work with the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcleanhospital.org\/treatment\/pact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT)<\/a>, a branch of Baltimore Mental Health Services. PACT serves adults with psychiatric conditions who are unable to use traditional outpatient services due to the seriousness of their diagnosis, or other socioeconomic factors. Because the work took place in different neighborhoods in Baltimore that I would never ordinarily go to, I was pushing myself out of my comfort zone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was the right choice. Each new clinical experience and interaction with the people using this program helped me chip away at previously-held stereotypes. I asked myself a lot of difficult questions and learned a lot from the people I worked with.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through my interactions with people benefiting from the program, and discussions with my PACT&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2020\/09\/16\/the-benefits-of-mentorship-in-medical-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mentor<\/a>, I now recognize that many hard-working, educated, and talented people are on the verge of being evicted or live on the streets already. Some lost their homes while chasing their dreams; some chose to buy baby formula instead of paying rent; others simply preferred to spend their time outside.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Working with PACT was a tremendous growing experience, and extremely humbling. I came to realize how important it is for clinicians\u2014and people in general!\u2014to understand the unique story that every person has to tell. This realization helped me separate my biases from the people in front of me so I could provide better care.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/med-student-interviewing-a-person.png\" alt=\"A medical student interviewing a person experiencing homelessness.\" class=\"wp-image-1292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/med-student-interviewing-a-person.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/med-student-interviewing-a-person.png?resize=300,200 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conversations_with_my_mentor\"><\/span>Conversations with my mentor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While driving from one patient to the next, I had many conversations with the health professional who was mentoring me. Looking back, I realize how obvious my biases must have been. I once asked, \u201cWhy can\u2019t these people come into the office? Why must we go to them?\u201d This statement reveals that, consciously or not, I may have been attributing laziness or non-compliance to these outpatients.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reality is that, sometimes, people simply don\u2019t have the resources or the support to take care of themselves. A person\u2019s brain chemistry can prevent them from staying organized and compliant on their own. This is not laziness\u2014sometimes, people need a little more assistance to stay on track, which is where organizations like PACT come in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a future doctor, it is important for me to recognize the limitations of everyone in my care, and tailor my treatment methods to meet their needs. Every person is different, and some individuals may need much more support than others.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"468\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/med-student-quote-card.png\" alt=\"A medical student benefiting from recognizing her implicit bias.\" class=\"wp-image-1291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/med-student-quote-card.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/med-student-quote-card.png?resize=300,201 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"My_takeaways_from_volunteering\"><\/span>My takeaways from volunteering<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My experience working with marginalized communities through PACT revealed so many of my personal misconceptions and biases. I am honestly not sure if I would have had the courage to pursue this experience if my school did not require service-learning. As a student, I already have so much on my plate\u2014from classwork to family requirements, outside jobs, and then maintaining my own mental health\u2014so it was hard to imagine adding another responsibility. However, it was such an invaluable experience, and it helped me grow into a better health professional, and into a better person, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I encourage every student in the medical field to go out into their community to get to know the people they plan to serve. You may find the experience challenging at first, but I am sure that this will make you more comfortable when serving your community in the future. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About Carly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Carly is a rising third year medical student at the&nbsp;<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medschool.umaryland.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore<\/a><\/em><em>. She is most interested in Dermatology and Plastic Surgery but who knows what specialty she will choose after her clinical years! In her spare time, Carly loves to exercise at the gym and play with the dogs at the local animal shelter.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">_________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Try Osmosis today! Access your&nbsp;<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/login?type=create\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free trial<\/a><\/em><em>&nbsp;and find out why millions of clinicians and caregivers love learning with us.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">_________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/osmosis.org\/plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/learn-more-robot-left-side.png?w=700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/learn-more-robot-left-side.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/learn-more-robot-left-side.png?resize=300,107 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI want to help people\u201d is a common response on a medical school application, but sometimes we experience trepidation when working within a new environment or group\u2014especially when we lack understanding of these groups. Read about how one medical student ventured outside of her comfort zone and overcame her biases to provide her community with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":1290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27,14,18,22,867,28,30,35,16,37,32,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-medicine","category-dental","category-equity-diversity-and-inclusion","category-health-and-wellness","category-lpn","category-mental-health","category-np","category-osmosis-health-leadership-initiative-ohli","category-do","category-pa","category-nursing","category-student-stories"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Make Yourself Comfortable: How to Be Aware of Your Implicit Biases - Osmosis Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/make-yourself-comfortable-how-to-be-aware-of-your-implicit-biases\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Make Yourself Comfortable: How to Be Aware of Your Implicit Biases - Osmosis Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cI want to help people\u201d is a common response on a medical school application, but sometimes we experience trepidation when working within a new environment or group\u2014especially when we lack understanding of these groups. 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