Awareness to Action: Integrating DEI into CME

In today's episode, I have a conversation with Sapana Panday, a medical education specialist with over two decades of experience. Sapana shares how her background in public health and evaluation research led her to work in medical education, particularly in areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

About Sapana
Sapana earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Mount Holyoke College and a Master’s in Public Health, Socio-Medical Sciences, from Columbia University. She brings a unique perspective from her upbringing in the developing nation of Nepal where education was a privilege afforded by the few, to her days as a health educator in the troubled schools of New York City. Over the years, she’s designed innovative educational formats, often leading the charge in introducing new concepts to medical education. She is a frequent speaker at many conferences and an advocate for integrating DEI efforts in CME.

Integrate DEI
Sapana emphasizes the importance of integrating DEO policies into both continuing education for health professionals and continuing education workplaces.

Start with Faculty
For instance, faculty policies represent one core area that can benefit from an integrated DEI approach that considers the characteristics of the people contributing expertise to the design and development of content. A simple statement that outlines the organization's commitment to DEI sets a foundation for ensuring that faculty members reflect diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Avoid Performative Allyship
We also explore how to avoid performative allyship and how self-evaluation and internal reflection are important crucial steps toward creating a more diverse and inclusive environment in continuing healthcare education.

Cultivate Communication Channels
And in that context, Sapana cautions on how to avoid making the assumption that individuals from diverse backgrounds can speak for an entire group in general. She emphasizes instead, the value of cultivating channels to share diverse voices and opinions.

Connect with Sapana
Email: sapana.panday@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Resources
The Lancet Group’s commitments to gender equity and diversity
Ten steps to gender equity: The BMJ’s resolutions
Unconscious Bias Drives Your Decision-Making. Here's How to Take Control

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