20 - Reflecting on the Past While Awakening the Future: Building from a Common Mission

Background: As COVID-19 and social justice issues weighed heavily on many people around the world, the CME/Library teams came together to demonstrate the differences in how we see and treat one another to remove implicit biases. Our teams implemented multi- faceted educational activities to improve overall skill sets and knowledge of staff. Being empowered with new knowledge, we hoped employees would recognize their own biases and provide better patient care.

Description: The objective of this poster is to illustrate creating and implementing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) activities within an academic health system. We hosted seven DEI continuing medical education speakers, four virtual book clubs, thirteen COVID-19 perspectives, a documentary film screening, and two physician panel discussions. Activities were designed for participants to learn strategies for implementation, engage in open conversations, and share thoughts and feelings surrounding social issues. Due to the virtual format and community partnerships, we had over 1,000 registered participants from hospitals, libraries, and academic institutions. Survey Monkey and Zoom were used for advance registration and post-evaluations.

Conclusion: As we reflect over the past year, all the activities we created helped the CME/Library teams to solidify a strong partnership. Our teams felt we increased awareness by helping people to start thinking and talking about DEI. Participants reported DEI is an important subject to provide excellent patient care. In planning future activities, we will work to align our goals with system goals. We will continue to have crucial conversations about DEI and health disparities. We will provide a safe space for open and engaging conversations through book clubs and other activities. By continuing these initiatives, we will strengthen our health system’s core values of respectful compassion, deep interdependence, passion for excellence, and responsible stewardship.