This learning module prepares contemporary psychiatrists to practice with an anti-racism framework in the care of all patients, and especially African Americans. Competency in this area is provided through exploration of historical facts underscoring the linkage of "race" and material disadvantage in America, as well as the spread of scientific racism during nascent periods of psychiatry. Contemporary issues affecting African-American patients at the point of mental health care are emphasized, along with discussion of effective interventions for addressing the institutional, interpersonal, and internal manifestations of racism. 

Course References

• Bailey, Z. D., Krieger, N., Agénor, M., Graves, J., Linos, N., & Bassett, M. T. (2017). Structural racism and health inequities in the USA: evidence and interventions. Lancet, 389(10077), 1453–1463.

• Flaherty, J. A., & Meagher, R. (1980). Measuring racial bias in inpatient treatment. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 137(6), 679–682.
• Graham, J. R., West, L. M., Martinez, J., & Roemer, L. (2016). The mediating role of internalized racism in the relationship between racist experiences and anxiety symptoms in a Black American sample. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 22(3), 369-376.
• Hairston D et al. (2019). Chapter 7: Clinician Bias in Diagnosis and Treatment. In M. Medlock, D. Shtasel, N.-H. T. Trinh, & D. R. Williams (Eds.), Racism and Psychiatry: Contemporary Issues and Interventions, 105–137.

Learning Objectives

• Define three levels of racism (institutional, interpersonal, internalized)
• Describe the impact of racism on the mental wellbeing of African Americans
• Describe two interventions that would bring a race equity framework to modern psychiatric practice

Target Audience

Psychiatrists, Residents/Fellows

Estimated Time to Complete

Estimated Duration: 60 minutes
Begin Date: June 19, 2020
End Date: June 19, 2023

How to Earn Credit

Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ or a certificate of participation may do so by completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the completion date and hours earned. 

Continuing Education Credit

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

The APA designates this enduring CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Faculty and Planner Disclosures

Program Presenter

• Morgan Medlock, MD, MDiv, MPH, Vice Chair, Council for Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Program Planners

• Morgan Medlock, MD, MDiv, MPH, Vice Chair, Council for Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Danielle Hairston, MD, Psychiatry Residency Training Director, Howard University School of Medicine, President, APA Black Caucus. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Phillip Murray, MD, MPH, Emergency Psychiatry/Telepsychiatry Physician, Carolinas HealthCare System. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Devin Cromartie, MD, MPH, Psychiatry Resident, Boston Medical Center. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Walter Wilson, MD, MHA, Member, APA Council on Minority Mental Health and Disparities. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Jasmin Scott-Hawkins, MH, MPH, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow, Harbor UCLA Medical Center. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Ruth Shim, MD, MPH, director of Cultural Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis Health. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Vabren Watts, PhD, Deputy Director, Diversity and Health Equity, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.

Technical Requirements

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:

• The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
• Internet Explorer 11+

This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.

Optimal System Configuration:

• Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher

Minimum Requirements:

• Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
• Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance