Micro-aggression training for physicians launches

A step toward anti-racism and anti-discrimination

June 15, 2023

Racism and discrimination are always unacceptable. In health care settings, they create negative care experiences for patients and stress, burnout and exhaustion for health care workers. Training on micro-aggressions is an important step in addressing those issues.

Over the past few months, the AMA, the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta and Alberta Health Services have collaborated on a new online training course for Alberta’s physicians on micro-aggressions. 

The course launched on June 14 and is available to all regulated members through the myCPSA virtual learning platform. The profession received an email from leadership at AMA, CPSA and AHS announcing that the course had gone live.

Why focus on micro-aggressions?

Micro-aggressions are everyday verbal and non-verbal slights, snubs or insults, communicating hostile, derogatory or negative messages toward others. Even if unintentional, micro-aggressions cause harm to those who experience them, as they contribute to unwelcoming environments and can reinforce stereotypes.
Not only are they harmful to individuals, but micro-aggressions also compromise the integrity of the medical profession by sabotaging physicians’ ability to provide patients with quality care.

Becoming an active participant in change

The new course will help physicians better understand what micro-aggressions are, how to recognize them, why they are harmful and how to respond. Through a combination of education and practical scenarios, this course will help equip participants with the skills to identify, address and intervene in micro-aggressions. Accreditation is in progress for this course, but physicians can currently claim credits for non-accredited learning from their national colleges.

Looking ahead

One course will not resolve the problem of racism and discrimination in health care, but this is a step toward improvement. The AMA, CPSA and AHS will continue to work together to identify future learning opportunities for physicians on this topic.

If you have any questions, please contact info@cpsa.ab.ca.

Alberta Medical Association Mission: Advocate for and support Alberta physicians. Strengthen their leadership in the provision of sustainable quality care.