Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

The ABPN modified its mission statement in April 2022 to highlight our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The activities below, developed through the ABPN’s 5-year DEI plan, will be continuously reviewed, monitored, and updated by the ABPN Board and the DEI Committee. View ABPN President and CEO Dr. Jeffrey Lyness’ video on DEI goals and activities at the ABPN.

- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement and Policy

- Statement on Racism and Health Disparities

ABPN Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Action Plan Report Card

Click on the Action Items for more details on each DEI activity.

People, Internal Structures, Workplace Culture
Action Item	Outcome / Metric	Status
Establish a board-level DEI Committee	Committee formed and functioning regularly	Done
Develop DEI policies	Policies written and approved by the board	Done
Develop DEI strategic plan	Plan in place, being implemented, with outcome goals	Ongoing
Ask for demographic data from ABPN personnel, i.e., board directors, staff, and committee members	Requests made of respective constituents	Ongoing
Foster diverse workforce and inclusive workplace	Report collective diversity for physician committee volunteers (collectively), track over time Unconscious bias training for ABPN personnel Use of best practices in human resources Inclusive artwork on walls at ABPN office Reflect diversity of ABPN personnel in office visuals	In Progress Ongoing Ongoing Done Ongoing

Products & Services (Certification & Continuing Certification)
Action Item	Outcome / Metric	Status
All certification and recertification examinations include DEI content, e.g., unconscious bias, structural racism & health disparities, social determinants of health	100% compliance in all examinations Review by physicians with relevant DEI expertise (as committee members or as additional reviewers)	Done Planned
Article-Based Continuing Certification (ABCC) pathway includes articles with DEI focus	Articles available for all ABCC specialties and subspecialties DEI-related content flagged for ready identification	Done In Progress
Identify DEI-related educational materials, including bias assessment modules, with CME or Self-Assessment CME credit available as part of Continuing Certification	Materials available, identified as such, provide applicable credit Encourage submission of PIP modules with DEI focus	Ongoing Planned
All certification and recertification examinations use inclusive language and approaches to patient material	Internal guidelines written, approved, implemented Review of guidelines and implementation by people with relevant expertise	Ongoing Done
Ask for demographic data from candidates and diplomates to allow ABPN to identify and address any bias on assessments	Request made of current diplomates Request made of all candidates	Done Ongoing

External Communications & Collaborations
Action Item	Outcome / Metric	Status
Develop a DEI Statement	Statement written and approved	Done
Communicate DEI progress publicly so ABPN can be held accountable	DEI section of website including action plan report card Messages from President/CEO Regular mention in Quarterly Updates Regular mention in Annual Report Regular mention in ‘ABPN Update’ presentations at national meetings Information readily visible to candidates and diplomates about DEI in examinations, articles, and other CC processes Communications help ‘connect the dots’ between our DEI goals/ activities and requests for demographic data Communicate rationale for fee structure Communicate accessibility of testing sites/centers for exams	Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Done Planned Done Planned
Hold Crucial Issues Forum on supporting and promoting women in academic psychiatry & neurology	Hold the Forum Produce report for public dissemination Incorporate recommendations into DEI action plan	Done Done Done
Hold Crucial Issues Forum on supporting and promoting physicians from racially and ethnically underrepresented groups in academic psychiatry & neurology	Hold the Forum Produce report for public dissemination Incorporate recommendations into DEI action plan	Done Done Done
Convene and influence professional organizations in the fields to share experiences and best practices in fostering DEI efforts, including recruitment of people from underrepresented groups into the fields and efforts to address racial disparities in the provision of health care	Hold Crucial Issues Forums with organizational representatives Include DEI efforts on agendas in leadership meetings with other organizations	Done Ongoing
Review website, Quarterly Updates, Annual Report, and other public communications to be inclusive and to mitigate bias	Processes in place to review materials All communications judged to meet these expectations	Ongoing Ongoing
Modify research awards / grants to encourage DEI work	Descriptions encourage such work Review processes place value on such work Collect data, track progress on % of projects / grants with DEI focus	Planned Planned Planned
Diplomate surveys / feedback requests ask about DEI efforts / content in ABPN assessments	Questions written and included in these surveys / feedback forms Track and report progress in survey responses	Planned Planned
Highlight the breadth of diversity among ABPN personnel	Spotlight individuals in a regular communications feature	Ongoing
Liaison with residents and fellows as DEI resources, potential future diplomates, potential future ABPN personnel	Videos on lifelong learning and board certification made available to trainees and training programs Engage with trainees in dedicated sessions at professional society meetings	Done In Progress
Communicate about certification and continuing certification requirements and processes to improve understanding by all candidates and diplomates	Increase and improve communications on website related to specific certifications and in continuing certification Provide communications, in clear/concise manner, in Quarterly Updates Consider possible role of augmenting communications with social media (review with national communications consultant)	Ongoing Ongoing In Progress

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

ABPN Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Action Plan Report Card

People, Internal Structures, Workplace Culture

Products & Services (Certification & Continuing Certification)

External Communications & Collaborations