Highlights
- •Surgery department conferences are practical for antiracism education.
- •The Cultural Complications Curriculum is useful for DEI surgical education.
- •Structured recruitment facilitates increased DEI topics at grand rounds.
- •Antiracism initiatives can be successfully coordinated under a centralized committee.
Abstract
Introduction
Disparities in surgical outcomes are well documented. Racial/ethnic minorities are
also disproportionately underrepresentated in surgery; however, most surgeons do not
acknowledge the existence of disparities. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education
in surgery is needed, yet DEI education is often confined to designated diversity
lectures, limiting depth of content. Underrepresented minorities (URMs) are also more
likely to be tasked with leading DEI initiatives, perpetuating the minority tax and
limiting non-URM engagement.
Methods
A DEI curriculum was implemented in a general surgery department, inclusive of programming
at morbidity and mortality (M&M) and grand rounds (GR).
Results/lessons learned
After implementing a DEI curriculum there was a significant increase in DEI topics
at M&M (0% versus 27.3%; p < 0.01) and GR (0% versus 18.4%; p < 0.001). The majority
of DEI M&Ms were presented by non-URMs (88.89%). Most DEI GR were presented by URMs
(55%).
Conclusions
Structured integration of DEI initiatives into surgery department conferences may
serve as a practical approach to increasing departmental awareness of disparities,
expanding DEI engagement, and increasing academic recognition for DEI initiatives.
Keywords
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 24, 2022
Accepted:
June 23,
2022
Received in revised form:
April 21,
2022
Received:
December 5,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
