The Pillars of Anti-oppressive Practice Part 1: Anti-racism Practices
Presented by Ellen Fink-Samnick
Healthcare professionals regularly encounter challenges that stem from systemic power imbalances and structural inequities, which can profoundly affect patient care and workforce well-being. This course introduces the framework of anti-oppressive practice, with a focused lens on anti-racism. Participants will explore foundational concepts of this theory, such as cultural humility, implicit bias, social justice, racial equity, and regulatory responsibilities, learning how each plays a critical role in reducing disparities and promoting equitable care. With an emphasis on real-world case scenarios, evidence-based strategies, and cross-disciplinary relevance, this course equips healthcare providers with tools to recognize and address racism and bias in their clinical settings. It is designed for professionals in athletic training, case management, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, and speech-language pathology working across diverse environments—including outpatient and acute care as well as community health and academic settings. This first installment in a three-part series lays the groundwork for cultivating inclusive and just healthcare practices that elevate both patient outcomes and team dynamics.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the five components of anti-oppressive practice
- Analyze the key elements of psychological safety
- Implement concepts of psychological safety across settings
- Distinguish between models of trauma-directed practice and leadership
- Apply trauma-directed care to practice
- Apply course content to industry-established resources of guidance (e.g., standards of practice, codes of ethics)
Meet your instructor
Ellen Fink-Samnick
Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick is an award-winning industry entrepreneur who empowers healthcare’s interprofessional workforce. She is known as Professional Case Management’s Ethical Compass and for her work in health equity, integrated care, interprofessional teams, professional case management, quality, and trauma-informed…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Foundations of Anti-oppressive Practice and Anti-racism
This chapter introduces the concept of anti-oppressive practice, outlining its five core elements: cultural humility, implicit bias, racial equity, social justice, and anti-racism. The content emphasizes how systemic power imbalances manifest in healthcare interactions and explores practical approaches to addressing racism beyond awareness—through sustained action and policy change. Healthcare professionals will reflect on their ethical codes and the impact of these principles on everyday clinical decisions.
2. Creating Psychological Safety
This chapter explores psychological safety as a fundamental component of effective, equitable care. Participants will learn how creating safe environments for patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams enhances communication, collaboration, and patient engagement. The chapter outlines concrete strategies for fostering trust and transparency, supporting ethical practice, and promoting shared decision-making—key to achieving optimal outcomes and organizational excellence.
3. Trauma-Directed Practice and Leadership
Building on the previous chapter, this section delves into trauma-informed and trauma-directed approaches that prioritize emotional safety and resilience. It highlights how trauma impacts patients and providers alike and introduces leadership strategies that support staff well-being and retention. By integrating these principles into care and supervision, healthcare professionals can lead with empathy, reduce burnout, and build sustainable systems that recognize and respond to trauma in all its forms.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Medbridge courses.
Who creates Medbridge courses?
We work with industry-leaders, top researchers, and consultants to build content roadmaps that are then structured into courses, filmed, and edited by our production team before being launched to our site.
How often does Medbridge release new courses?
New courses are added monthly and are automatically included in your subscription as they launch.
How often does Medbridge update courses?
Medbridge reviews its courses annually for relevance and to assess if content is up to date. Based on these reviews it may be determined that a course is out of date resulting in the course being re-filmed or retired, if the content is no longer needed (e.g. a replacement course already exists, the concepts are no longer best practice, etc.).
How many courses does Medbridge offer?
We have over 3,000 accredited courses and we are continually updating our library with new courses. Check our course library for the most up-to-date count for your discipline.
Are there any additional fees for taking a Medbridge course?
There are no additional fees for taking a Medbridge course, obtaining a course certificate of completion, earning CEUs as a subscriber, or accessing any of the additional tools your subscription may include.
Is there a limit to the number of courses I can take?
There is no limit to the number of courses you can take as a subscriber! As a subscriber to Medbridge, you have unlimited access to over 3,000+ accredited CE courses.
If you are a Premium subscriber, you also have unlimited access to our Patient Engagement Tools such as the Home Exercise Program, Patient Education Library, Orthopedic Exam Tests, and Manual Therapy Techniques. We have over 7,000 exercises and over 650+ videos and handouts of patient education resources with more exercises and patient education added to the library based on subscriber feedback, volume of request and specialities.
What is your refund policy?
You are eligible for a refund provided your request is received within 30 days of your subscription purchase and your account has no activity.