#MedEd: Wellness II - Diversity & Inclusion

Today we sit down with Dionne Poulton, PhD, who is the new Chief Diversity Officer of the Care New England health system, of which our hospital (Women and Infants of RI) is part. You can see an additional interview with Dr. Poulton here, and check out her book, It’s Not Always Racist…But Sometimes It Is on Amazon.

Dr. Poulton today walks us through diversity and the workplace, its importance, and some practical knowledge for promoting diversity and responding to questionable or poor behaviors at work.

Also be sure to check out this month’s Green Journal article on the imperative for inclusion of transgender and gender non-binary individuals in OB/GYN care. We hope that implicit in this is an inclusion of a diverse group of individuals in medical education to provide the best and most inclusive obstetrics and gynecology care.

COVID-19 for the OB/GYN

Today’s episode is an audio summary of the CDC and SMFM guidelines for COVID-19, focusing on the virus, identification, containment, and considerations for pregnancy and postpartum care. We do not explore treatments or any intricacies in either outpatient or inpatient care.

Rather than posting those guidelines here verbatim, we have gone through and identified a lot of reputable sources with factual, up-to-date information for healthcare providers:

• The ObG Project has a section of their website with the latest summaries in COVID-19 research, with a special focus on OB-GYN issues (such as pregnancy care).

• The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine also has made available numerous free resources, including a webinar on preparing OB units, coding and billing resources, recommendations for prenatal care with telehealth, and components of its Critical Care Course are now available for free.

• ACOG has put out a Practice Advisory as well as statements related to advocacy for frontline workers, trainees, and telehealth practice. ACOG also led a joint statement regarding elective surgery which was co-signed by all major subspecialty societies.

• ACOG and major subspecialty societies have also co-authored a joint statement on access to abortion care during COVID-19.

• SGO has put together resources for cancer care during COVID-19, as well as further information regarding elective surgery during this time. AAGL also hosted a webinar related to front-lines care and surgical planning.

• The CDC’s page for healthcare professionals is frequently updated with the latest recommendations.

• PregnancyCOVID19.com was compiled by SMFM physicians for up-to-date references concerning the virus and pregnancy.

We also mention in the episode a registry being established for pregnant patients with COVID-19. Please listen to learn more about how you can be involved.

#MedEd: Applying into Gynecologic Oncology

Today we welcome one of our colleagues, Dr. Deanna Glassman, current PGY-4 at Women and Infants / Brown University, but heading off to Houston, TX this summer to become a new fellow in gynecologic oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center!

She shares with us her own story of applying into GynOnc and the essential facts of this field.