2022 Specialty Day Access Pass-Session V: Diversity and Inclusion

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This session from a combined specialty day program focused on diversity, inclusion, and equity in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Julie Samora highlighted the Ruth Jackson Society’s history supporting women in orthopedics, honoring pioneering female surgeon Ruth Jackson. Dr. Leah Brown gave a keynote on implicit bias in healthcare, illustrating its pervasive impact on diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes, especially for minorities and women. She urged self-awareness and actionable change to combat these biases at individual, organizational, and societal levels.<br /><br />Dr. Mara Shanker shared her personal struggle with imposter syndrome in surgical training, emphasizing the importance of confidence-building, education on intangible skills, and normalization of such discussions in surgery. The panel also addressed microaggressions, sexual harassment, and systemic discrimination faced by women and underrepresented minorities in orthopedics, stressing the need for cultural change and allyship.<br /><br />Initiatives like the Ruth Jackson Society’s HeForShe award encourage male mentorship for women surgeons, while Speak Up Ortho provides a platform to report sexism and harassment anonymously to promote supportive workplaces. Dr. Linda Suleman highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Black surgeons, linking systemic racism and bias to retention issues.<br /><br />The session concluded with a call to action: orthopedic surgeons must educate themselves, acknowledge biases, advocate for equitable environments, and actively drive change to create a diverse, inclusive, and supportive field for all.

Asset Caption

Moderators: Don A. Buford, M.D., FAANA, Jo A. Hannafin, M.D., Ph.D.

Keywords

diversity in orthopedic surgery

inclusion and equity

Ruth Jackson Society

implicit bias in healthcare

imposter syndrome in surgery

microaggressions and sexual harassment

systemic discrimination

male mentorship and HeForShe

supportive workplace initiatives