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 SapanaSapana 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 FacultyFor 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 ChannelsAnd 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 SapanaEmail: [email protected] Lancet Group’s commitments to gender equity and diversityTen steps to gender equity: The BMJ’s resolutionsUnconscious Bias Drives Your Decision-Making. Here's How to Take ControlProduced by Golden Goose CreativeSupport the show📍Grab the WriteCME Roadmap⭐ Review the podcast🗞️ Biweekly Newsletter with tips and resources to enrich your CME content niche➡️ Join WriteCME Pro for ongoing professional development 🌐 Podcast website🎙️ Share the podcast Mentioned in this episode:Why Retreats Work: Disconnection, Body Wisdom, and the Science of Letting GoRewrite Your Power Retreat 2026This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp