Engendering Medical Education - Workshop at AIIMS, Rishikesh, 24th to 25th March 2025

CEHAT, in collaboration with the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) department of AIIMS Rishikesh, conducted a two-day gender sensitization workshop on March 24-25, 2025, aimed at integrating gender perspectives into medical education and practice. Thirty medical educators from various colleges across Uttarakhand participated in the workshop.

The first day began with an introduction to the workshop’s purpose, setting the stage for insightful discussions on gender and health. Dr. Arjunkumar Jakasania from MGIMS, Sewagram led an engaging session on Beyond Biology: Decoding Gender and Sex, where he clarified the distinctions between sex and gender, unpacking key terminologies like gender norms, roles, and stereotypes. The session encouraged participants to critically analyze how gender shapes medical practice. This was followed by a session on Unveiling the Unique Health Needs of LGBTQIA+ Communities, conducted by Dr. Harshal Sahte, also from MGIMS, Sewagram. The session emphasized the healthcare needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals beyond sexual and reproductive health, using videos and activities like the Magic Baby and Inverted Universe to deepen participants' understanding of inclusive medical care.

In the afternoon, Dr. Arjun and the CEHAT team facilitated a session on Understanding Gender as a Social Determinant of Health, where they explained how gender influences healthcare access and outcomes. The session used the Power Walk Activity to illustrate disparities in healthcare access, with a specific focus on policies like the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and the barriers faced by different communities in accessing reproductive healthcare. The final session of the day, conducted by Dr. Harshal and the CEHAT team, addressed Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and its Impact on Health. Using case studies, videos, and the LIVES approach, participants explored the health consequences of GBV and medico-legal responses, equipping them with practical knowledge on handling such cases in clinical settings.

On second day, Amruta Bavadekar facilitated a session on Understanding Barriers Faced by Women in Accessing Abortion, where participants engaged in the Spider Web Activity to discuss real-world challenges and policy gaps that hinder women’s access to safe abortion services. This was followed by a session on Balancing Act: Navigating the Ethical Landscape in Medical Practice, led by Dr. Jagadeesh. Through case studies, participants explored complex ethical dilemmas in medical practice, discussing issues like assisted reproductive technologies (ART), surrogacy, and sex verification tests, and how ethical frameworks can be applied in teaching and clinical decision-making.

In the final part of the day, participants prepared and presented lesson plans, showcasing how they would incorporate gender perspectives into their lesson plans. The workshop concluded with participant presentations on gender-integrated lesson plans, followed by reflections, feedback, and a valedictory function. The event marked an important step toward gender-sensitive medical education, equipping educators with the tools to create more inclusive and equitable healthcare environments.

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