CME | Too Young, Too Old, Too Bold: Ageism and Sexism in the House of Medicine

This episode of CME On The Go addresses the complex issues of ageism and sexism in medical practice. Topics that are discussed include the historical and ongoing biases in treatment, research, and workplace policies that affect both patients and healthcare professionals. The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing implicit biases, understanding the limitations of existing data, and advocating for more inclusive and supportive policies across the healthcare system.

Topics by Timestamp

00:20 Meet the Hosts 00:46 Addressing Concerns About the Episode 02:07 Introduction to Age and Gender in Medicine 03:31 Case Presentation: Ageism and Sexism in Medicine 05:10 Pain Management in Older Adults 08:32 Gender Bias in Medical Research 12:10 Generational Differences in Medicine 17:25 Parental Leave and Gender Expectations 23:45 Senior Physicians and Competency 25:57 Key Takeaways and Gratitude

Credit Claiming

https://www.aafp.org/assessment/take/18198/e

Learning Objectives

1. Identify and describe how ageism and sexism can impact professional relationships and communication in clinical practice, and explore strategies to mitigate these biases to improve team dynamics and patient care. 2. Discuss the implications of generational differences in work expectations and leadership styles, and evaluate how embracing diverse perspectives can enhance collaboration, reduce burnout, and strengthen the practice of family medicine. 3. Examine institutional policies and cultural norms that affect equity and inclusion in medicine—such as fitness-to-practice evaluations and gendered assumptions—and explore how addressing these systems can support a more effective and compassionate healthcare workforce.

Disclosure: It is the policy of the AAFP that all individuals in a position to control content disclose any relationships with commercial interests upon nomination/invitation of participation. Disclosure documents are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest and, if identified, conflicts are resolved prior to confirmation of participation. Only those participants who had no conflict of interest or who agreed to an identified resolution process prior to their participation were involved in this CME activity. 

All individuals in a position to control content for this session have indicated they have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 

 

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