Recommended Citation
Gillet V, Bidwell J, Getzin A, et al. Air Quality Escape Room (ESCR): Engaging Residents in Health Equity Education. Poster presentation at: Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers (AIAMC) – National Initiative X: Meeting #2; April 17-18, 2026; Carlsbad, CA.
Presentation Notes
Poster presentation at: Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers (AIAMC) – National Initiative X: Meeting #2; April 17-18, 2026; Carlsbad, CA.
Abstract
Introduction:
Social and structural drivers of health, including environmental exposures such as air pollution, are increasingly recognized as essential components of equitable health care delivery. Despite this, internal medicine residents often face barriers to meaningfully incorporating environmental health considerations into clinical decision-making. Gamification, including medical education escape rooms, has shown promise in improving learner engagement, autonomy, and competence in nontraditional biomedical topics. This project describes the development of an immersive escape room–style educational intervention focused on the health impacts of air quality for internal medicine residents.
Methods:
In December 2025, two internal medicine faculty participated in a medical education design sprint sponsored by Advocate Health’s Environmental Affairs and Sustainability Office. During this sprint, participants collaborated in teams to create draft immersive case challenges, including one focused on air quality. Faculty subsequently partnered with two internal medicine residents with expertise in game design or environmental health to refine and implement a 30–60 minute air quality escape room. Planned evaluation includes pre- and post-intervention surveys, selected ACGME survey items related to health disparities, and assessment of an Aurora-specific graduate medical education milestone on structural fluency.
Results:
Baseline data from internal medicine residents, including ACGME survey results and institutional structural fluency competency assessments, were identified to inform intervention development.
Discussion:
This educational initiative aims to integrate environmental health into internal medicine training through an engaging, learner-centered format. If successful, this escape room model may offer a scalable approach to addressing gaps in resident education related to air quality, vulnerable populations, and health equity.
Type
Poster
Affiliations
Aurora Health Care