Racist nativism in academic medicine: an analysis of Latinx faculty experiences

Abstract

The disadvantaged position in which underrepresented faculty in medicine often find themselves is characteristic of not only our current society but also tradition and elitism in academic medicine. This study analyzed the experiences of Latino/a/x faculty in academic medicine and examined the messages that perpetuate racist nativist attitudes in academia. The analysis employed qualitative content textual analysis to examine interview transcripts with Latino/a/x faculty. The approach is grounded on racist nativism as the foundation for analysis, expanding its theoretical reach to academic medicine. Findings revealed experiences of racism, discrimination and microaggressions, as well as the role of perceived accents as exclusionary identifiers, and provided insights into its effect on academic credibility. The exodus of Latino/a/x faculty and administrators from traditionally White institutions is thought to be multifactorial, including poor institutional climates and instances of racism. This article demonstrates how racism challenges the credibility of Latino/a/x faculty.