The division of General Internal Medicine will continue to offer the “Stepping In 4 Respect” workshops this fall for members of the division to participate. These workshops are intended to prepare and empower you to address bias in the moment when they occur. Whether it is in the workplace setting or other social settings, these discriminatory behaviors take place, intentionally or unintentionally, and to break this cycle in our society, having our team feel prepared to “step in” is one of the pieces needed.
Caroline Sloan, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the division of General Internal Medicine, participated in the Stepping In 4 Respect workshops and received additional training through the University of Virginia to be an official “trainer” for the Department of Medicine.
“I have found so much benefit to these workshops and really encourage GIM members to partake,” says Dr. Sloan. “You witness these situations, and, in the moment, it can be hard to know what to say or how to react.”
Workshops are 2 hours and take place on Zoom. Each workshop consists of a small group, including Department of Medicine Stepping In 4 Respect trainers, that are interactive through scenario-based learning and conversations as a group on how to address certain situations through various techniques. Participants will walk away with a toolbox of knowledge to feel prepared when addressing inappropriate or discriminatory comments and/or behaviors.
Sloan shared a story of a situation when she witnessed implicit bias. After caring for a patient with chronic illnesses, who was African American, she referred him to an outside specialty clinic for additional care. The specialist circled back with Sloan to share the care plan and in their conversation, made the incorrect assumption that the patient had poor health literacy and transportation barriers and therefore might not comply with his care plan.
“These are the types of scenarios that we witness regularly. I should have asked her what she meant at that moment, and perhaps could have pointed out that her assumptions about my patient were completely wrong. But I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything,” shares Sloan. “The Stepping In 4 Respect workshops are meant to give you the confidence to address biased remarks and discriminatory behavior in the moment, whether the behavior is directed at you, your colleagues, your trainees, or a stranger nearby.”
GIM Fall workshops are being held throughout October and November and faculty and trainees are strongly encouraged to sign up.
- Friday, October 21: 11 a.m. -1 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 25: 9-11 a.m.
- Thursday, November 3: 9-11 a.m.
- Thursday, November 10: 9-11 a.m.
- Tuesday, November 15: 9-11 a.m.
If you have a group of 10 or more participants and want to schedule a workshop together, please reach out to Kim Dorman with suggested dates and times.