Advancing Equity in Maternal Health in Illinois: Understanding & Interrupting Bias
12 p.m.
Register Online

The intersection between maternal health and implicit bias can have a powerful impact on disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality in Illinois. According to a 2023 report from the IDPH, Black women have the highest risk of pregnancy-related death in Illinois and were almost twice as likely to die of pregnancy-related causes. Studies show that factors such as social determinants of health and implicit bias contribute to maternal health disparities and outcomes. Implicit bias can be challenging to recognize because it is generally unconscious and influenced by a combination of personal, cultural, and environmental perceptions. Physicians and healthcare providers can benefit from educational activities highlighting the pervasiveness of implicit bias and its impact on patient care, particularly within the context of maternal morbidity and mortality.

Join the Illinois State Medical Society for this webinar to learn more about how implicit biases develop and influence decision-making and patient care, the negative effects of implicit bias, and how to effectively mitigate those effects.

The state of Illinois requires physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals who provide maternal health care services to complete one hour of continuing education on implicit bias in maternal health awareness each licensure cycle starting July 1, 2026.

Who can attend:

Registration is open to ISMS members and their staff.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize why maternal health disparities exist in Illinois and the United States
• Define bias – explicit, implicit, and structural – and recognize it and its impact in clinical settings
• Listen to, reflect on, and value lived experiences of all patients and community members
• Practice specific, evidence-informed skills to interrupt bias in real-time
• Commit to at least one personal or team action that advances equity and dignity in care.

Accreditation: The Illinois State Medical Society designates this live 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.

Credit designation: The Illinois State Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Disclosure: The planners, faculty, and others in control of content have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.