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ForwardJanuary 8, 2026: Francis Bonner Award in Diversity Lecture - Honoring the Research of Prof. Sam Sommers: Combating Racial Bias in Social Perception and Health Outcomes
Honoring the Research of Prof. Sam Sommers: Combating Racial Bias in Social Perception and Health Outcomes
Description:
Across a series of experiments, we explore how people’s reluctance to talk openly about race can lead to suboptimal communication. In addition, we will describe a new research direction examining the effects of racial discrimination on the brain and body, and how those effects may contribute to disparities in health outcomes. Finally, we describe the use of social psychological principles in efforts to disseminate social psychological theory and research on racial bias.
Target Audience
This program is intended for Psychiatrists, Psychologists, General and Family Practice Physicians, Psychiatric Nurses, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Social Workers.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the activity, participants will be able to:
- Analyze and discuss the role that race plays in shaping social interactions.
- Describe how paradigms developed in psychiatric neuroimaging can be employed to study the psychological, physiological, and brain correlates of recalling experiences with racial discrimination.
- Define implicit and explicit racial bias, understand their cognitive foundations, and explore their effects on social judgments.
SPEAKER(S)
Lisa Shin, PhD
Michael Norton, PhD
Keith Maddox, PhD
Lisa Shin, PhD
Lisa Shin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Dartmouth College and a PhD in Psychology from Harvard University. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry (Psychiatric Neuroscience) at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School under the mentorship of Dr. Scott Rauch, and has been a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Tufts University since 1998. Prof. Shin and her colleagues use structural and functional neuroimaging techniques (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) at the Martinos Center (at MGH) to study stress-related brain circuitry and how it contributes to posttraumatic stress disorder and other adverse health outcomes. Most recently, she has applied psychiatric neuroscience paradigms to the study of stress related to the experience of discrimination.
Disclosures:
Michael Norton, PhD
Michael I. Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. He is the author of The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions. He is also the co-author - with Elizabeth Dunn - of Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending. His research has been the answer to Final Jeopardy and has been parodied by The Onion. He was selected for Wired Magazine’s Smart List as one of “50 People Who Will Change the World,” and his TEDx talk, How to Buy Happiness, has been viewed more than 4.5 million times.
Disclosures:
Keith Maddox, PhD
Keith Maddox earned his A.B. in Psychology from the University of Michigan and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department at Tufts University, Director of the Tufts University Social Cognition (TUSC) Lab, and Editor of the journal Social Cognition. His research and teaching are focused on exploring social cognitive aspects of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. The long-range goal of this work is to further the understanding of the representation of stereotypic knowledge and its implications for the behavior and treatment of members of stereotyped groups.
Disclosures:
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of IHP and Massachusetts General Hospital. IHP is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
IHP designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 1.00 Nursing Contact Hours
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 13, sections 13, 14, 14A, 15 and 15D and Chapter 112, sections 74 through 81C authorize the Board of Registration in Nursing to regulate nursing practice and education.
This program meets the requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR 5.00) for 1.00 contact hours of nursing continuing education credit. Advance practice nurses, please note: Educational activities which meet the requirements of the ACCME (such as this activity) count towards 50% of the nursing requirement for ANCC accreditation.
- 1.00 Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the MGH Institute of Health Professions is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. MGH Institute of Health Professions maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 clock hours for continuing education credits.
- 1.00 Participation
This course allows other providers to claim a Participation Certificate upon successful completion of this course.
Participation Certificates will specify the title, location, type of activity, date of activity, and number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ associated with the activity. Providers should check with their regulatory agencies to determine ways in which AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may or may not fulfill continuing education requirements. Providers should also consider saving copies of brochures, agenda, and other supporting documents.
- 1.00 Psychologists CE Credit
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.00 CE credit.
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, MGH Institute of Health Professions is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
1.0 Physicians
MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.
1.0 Physician Associates/Assistants
AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Live
MGH Institute of Health Professions has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Enduring Materials
MGH Institute of Health Professions has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until {Expiration Date). PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
1.0 Nursing
MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.0 contact hours for nurses. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
1.0 Pharmacists
This activity provides 1.0 contact hours of continuing education credit.
NOTE FOR PHARMACISTS: Upon closing of the electronic evaluation, IHP will upload the pharmacy-related continuing education information to the CPE Monitor within 60 days. Per ACPE rules, IHP does not have access nor the ability to upload credits requested after the evaluation closes. It is the responsibility of the pharmacist or pharmacy technician to provide the correct information [NABP ePID and DOB (in MMDD format)] in order to receive credit for participating in a CE activity.
1.0 Psychologists:
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.0 CE credit.
1.0 Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, MGH Institute of Health Professions is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. MGH Institute of Health Professions maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 clock hours for continuing education credits.
1.0 IPCE Credit
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.