“There's evident lack of respect and degree appreciation for Health & Rehabilitation Science students. We get treated like sub-health professionals.... Quite sad.”  This comment from a 3rd Year Occupational Therapy (OT) student resonated the core theme of responses to an online survey and petition conducted for the Hierarchy Project of the Health Sciences Student Council (HSSC).

The project was initiated last year as a result of  the ‘observed and experienced systemic discrimination’ against students on the Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology and Physiotherapy programmes (collectively known as Health & Rehabilitation).

Information was gathered from 250 students across disciplines to assess the state of inter-and intra-disciplinary equality in the Faculty. Responses were collated into a report, the findings of which were presented at a student assembly last October, and handed to the Deanery.

Citing the report, a student representative spoke of the numerous accounts from undergraduate students which showed that “discrimination manifests itself in terms of resources, conducive space and respect and dignity, which negatively impacts on the ability to learn, and the sense of belonging experienced by Health and Rehabilitation students in our faculty.”

For those present, the personal testimonies presented made for uncomfortable listening, and  included:
 

"I'm tired of the medics believing they have superiority over H&R. From them referring to OT's as ‘basket weavers’ to 2nd years trying to kick out our 4th year tut early in a venue we had booked until 2. So many of them don’t understand what we do, and don’t care enough to make the effort to either.

- 4th Year Occupational Therapy Student
 

“Countless times being kicked out and denied venues for classes.”

- 4th Year Occupational Therapy Student
  

’ “I overheard a group of med students saying that ‘audios and speechies' are only studying this because we didn't get into medicine. Lol, I didn’t even apply for medicine.”

- 1st Year Speech Language Pathology Student.

 

Experiences of discrimination appear to start as early as O-Week and permeated through to clinical years, and beyond. There seemed consensus that the issue needs addressing at both institutional and individual level.

The view of the HSSC was that “From the report and the meeting, it is clear that while there are actionable steps to be taken, the process of addressing the conceptual, systemic and attitudinal aspects of interdisciplinary hierarchy will require commitment from the entire faculty.” 

For individuals, it was suggested, the work begins with three questions: When have I been silent and apathetic? When have I been complicit? When have I perpetuated hierarchy?

For the Faculty, as an institution, efforts should be made to create a more inclusive, less competitive and respectful environment - from the curriculum, to governance structures, to policy interventions are required to change perception, improve attitudes and the quality of education received by H&R students.

The Hierarchy project, says the HSSC, is the first step in addressing the issues while acknowledging that it extends far beyond the experiences of undergraduate students. The significant being, that experiences of exclusion affects the wellbeing of students, the quality of care provided for patients and ultimately the health of the nation.