It Takes a Village: Improving Social Drivers of Health and the Health Ecosystem

Friday, October 17, 2025, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Volney Auditorium, 1201 Terry Ave. - Lindeman Pavilion Level 1, Seattle, WA

Clinicians care for diverse patient populations whose physical and mental health and access to healthcare is differentially impacted by their race, sex, language, literacy, socioeconomic status, environmental exposures, and other unique factors. Our healthcare teams are similarly impacted by these factors, as well as by clinical bias. “It Takes a Village” aims to bring together healthcare workers from across the spectrum to discuss these social drivers of healthcare and to address the broad and deep topic of health equity.

In addition to the health equity and structural challenges faced by racial and ethnic populations, we aim to focus on topics ranging from physical and mental disabilities, obesity, and substance use disorder – all of which produce additional challenges in equitable care. There is a growing body of research and literature describing these challenges and opportunities for health care providers to change their practice to help achieve equity for vulnerable populations. In this course, we aim to provide a welcoming environment where healthcare workers from both the hospital and clinical realms can foster new connections and community as they address topics that very much affect the care they provide every single day.

Teaching methods include lecture, Q&A with faculty, panel discussion, case presentation, and small group discussion.

1. Describe how systemic and implicit bias impact patient care
2. Identify common barriers to equitable access for routine maintenance diabetes medications and devices
3. Recognize the contributing factors and barriers leading to disparities in access for patients within the mental health system
4. Develop a personal practice of using an equity mind-set in managing patient-provider power dynamics
5. Discuss critical importance of public health and healthcare collaboration

Register to attend this course in person or participate via livestream:

$185.00 - Attend in person, includes box lunch

$160.00 - Attend via Livestream - link will be provided.

Online registration will be open through Wednesday, October 15, 2025. For registration assistance, call the CME department at 206.341.0142 or email [email protected].

The Virginia Mason Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Virginia Mason Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.50  AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC): Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 6.5 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Parking: Parking is not included with registration. Virginia Mason's downtown parking facilities are limited and reserved for patients, therefore we offer this map of public lots with walking routes to the Lindeman Pavilion.

Seattle Public transportation: Metro Bus routes serving the First Hill neighborhood include 2, 10, 12, 60, 193, and 303. Please consult the Metro Trip Planner for route information and schedules.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ (6.50 hours), ABIM MOC Part 2 (6.50 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (6.50 hours)

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Virginia Mason Medical Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Friday, October 17, 2025