Community Engagement and Diversity Action Work Group (CEDAWG)

Since its founding in 2010, the Community Engagement and Diversity Action Work Group (CEDAWG) is a steering committee comprised of faculty and residents who work together to engage with issues of inequity and remain committed to addressing racism within our residency and sponsoring institutions. There are two resident co-chair positions (R2 & R3.)

CEDAWG Mission Statement:
To promote and strengthen a relationship between the residency program and the diverse communities we serve, guided by a mindset of cultural mindfulness and compassion, in our pursuit for overall wellness for all.

2024-2025 CEDAWG Chairs:

Ray Mak, MD

Andrew Pastor, MD [he/him/his]

Yadira Raya-Cervantes, MD [she/her/ella]

Our overarching goals are to:

• Create a connection within our patients' communities through mindful communication.
• Empower these diverse communities through the acts of education, mentoring, and relationship-building.
  
• Better the health and wellness of the communities we serve through a community-based approach.
  
• Learn the importance of developing cultural mindfulness when working within the communities we serve.
  

CEDAWG's sponsored activities include: quarterly social events (e.g. Posada, karaoke, sushi making, movie nights), quarterly resident and faculty meeting, hosting CEDAWG sponsored grand rounds (e.g. Differential Treatment of Pain in the Hospital, Critical Race Theory), pre-orientation URM intern welcome reception.

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CEDAWG Initiatives ​

BIAS REPORTING TOOL (BIRT)
What is a bias incident? – Conduct, speech or expression motivated, in whole or in part, by bias or prejudice regarding any part of a person’s identity. 

• Created by CEDAWG in 2019
• ​How it works: 
  • Any person in the residency can submit an incident via the designated Google form.
  • ​​​​The person submitting can remain anonymous or leave their name for follow-up. Reports can be submitted on behalf of someone else involved in the program.
  • CEDAWG Resident Chairs and the Residency PEACE Coordinator review submissions on a regular basis (~1-2 months). However, if there is an need for urgent action, it is best to directly notify a CEDAWG Chair. 
• What happens to submissions? 
  • CEDAWG tracks patterns of bias that could lead to opportunities for change and/or education on an institutional, team, and/or individual level.