Diversity and Inclusion Webinar Series Recap

Towards a More Equitable and Thriving Future

BY MIKE WAMUNGU SCCMA

For the month of September, we took a step SCCMA has never taken before: addressing the elephant in the room in our profession and throughout our nation’s history: systemic racism and the glaring ways in which it informs the disparate health outcomes we witness. The catalyst for this reckoning was a devasting a covid-19 pandemic that has wreaked havoc across every corner of our nation and disproportionally engulfed Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. According to the C.D.C, nearly two hundred thousand Americans have died from SARSCOV-19. Though a shocking figure on its own, a deeper look into those numbers reveal a startling pattern: severe disparities in prognosis across racial and economic lines — the byproduct of “social determinants of health”, otherwise known as conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.

To make sense of these trends and empower our members with the tools to better understand and more expertly navigate these harsh realities, we developed a Free CME Diversity and Inclusion series. Through a combination of robust presentations from prestigious practitioners and experts on race, gender, and equity in healthcare, the four-part series highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in medicine and attracted over 500 total participants in the month of September.

Session one: Understanding and Dismantling Implicit Bias in Patient Care, led by Dr. Danielle Hairston, deconstructed how systemic racism results in disparities in health and when combined with implicit bias in patient care, result in less accurate diagnoses, curtailed treatment options, less pain management, and deadly patient outcomes. With Dr. Hairston’s help, we defined these terms, explored ways to minimize our own biases, and learned specific techniques to screen patients for stress and trauma and reduce bias in patient interactions.

Session two: Eradicating Gender Bias in Medicine, led by Dr. Arghavan Salles unpacked the dangers of gender-based workplace discrimination, it’s striking toll on patient outcomes, and the prevalence of pay inequity, despite data supporting the tremendous patient outcomes facilitated by women physicians. Together, we discussed ways to address gender bias, correct it, and create safe, women-friendly and family-friendly work environments

Session three: Minorities in Medicine — A look at Physician Diversity, dove deep into the institutional barriers and harmful systemic practices that limit, discourage, and penalize physicians of color across the nation — then explored tactics for reform and empowerment through a case study of Dr. Keith Carter’s work at Iowa University.

And finally, our grand finale: Health Equity, Resilience, Leadership in Times of Crisis, led by Dr. Rhea W. Boyd, took an authoritative look at diversity and inclusion work as an effective tool for building institutional resilience, more robust scenario planning, and imagining community-centered futures. In an impressive presentation spanning policing, public health, and integrative medicine, Dr. Boyd dared us to render visible injustices within our healthcare system, and address them head on to create a more equitable world for all. For those who attended these sessions, thank you for your deep care and fervor. Patients across the country will be better for it. To our presenters, thank you for your conviction, courage, and expertise. For those unable to make it, all sessions are accessible on www.sccma.org, under resources. Join us as we do our part to ensure better patient outcomes for all. The work continues.