MSOS DEIA Summit Highlight Document
Written by MSOS DEIA Summit Committee: Laurie Bracey, Alexander Dawes, Shayom Debopadhaya, Isaiah Hughes, Christopher Saker, Christina Stach, Maike van Niekerk
On October 15, 2023, MSOS hosted the inaugural MSOS DEIA summit. The aim of this summit was to increase medical students' understanding of DEIA disparities in orthopedic surgery and provide exposure to the many established organizations focused on improving DEIA in orthopedic surgery. This single day, virtual event started with an opening address by Dr. Marvin Dingle. This was followed by organization led presentations, discussing the mission and opportunities providing by our 6 partnering diversity organizations. Next was the organization-led breakout sessions, which discussed diversity key topics: Gender Diversity in Orthopedic Surgery, LGBTQIA+ in Orthopedic Surgery, Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Orthopedic Surgery, Creating, Leading, and Sustaining, Successful Diversity Initiatives, and Mentorship in Orthopedic Surgery. This event ended with closing remarks by Dr. Mary Mulcahey. This document summarizes the opportunities provided by these six organizations as well as the major takeaways from the breakout room session discussions.
Organizations
Dr. Ramon Jimenez, MD
Dr. William Ross, MD, MS
Dr. Erica Taylor, MD, MBA
Dr. Katherine Coyner, MD, MBA
Dr. Jamie Bellamy, DO
Dr. Christen Russo, MD
Dr. Christen Russo
Dr. Jamie Bellamy
Dr. Erica Taylor
Dr. Julie Samora
Organization: American Association of Latino Orthopaedic Surgeons (AALOS)
Speaker: Dr. Ramon Jimenez, MD (Past President and Co-Founder of AALOS)
Mission: The Mission of the American Association of Latin Orthopedic Surgeons (AALOS) is to improve the quality and accessibility of orthopaedic health care for the Hispanic population in the USA. Our efforts are aimed at improving cultural competency in the orthopaedic profession and mentoring Hispanic students who aspire to become orthopaedic surgeons. We strongly support efforts to diversify the profession of orthopaedic surgery so that the cultural demographics of orthopaedic surgery mirror the population of the USA
Initiatives: Role Models, Student Symposium and Workshops, SawBones Labs, Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) Chapters, Scholarships for AAOS Annual Meeting
Contact Info:
Website: www.aalos.org
Instagram: AALOS.Social
Twitter: AALOS_Social
Facebook: AALOS.Social
Email: aalosassn@gmail.com
Organization: Nth Dimensions
Speaker: Dr. William Ross, MD, MS (Director of Clinical Education of Nth Dimensions)
Mission: Nth Dimensions’ mission is to eliminate healthcare disparities in all communities by diversifying the physician workforce
Initiatives: Bioskills workshops, Nth Dimensions Summer Internships, Scholarships for AAOS Annual Meeting, Mentorship Programs
Contact Info:
Website: www.nthdimensions.org
Instagram: @nthdimensions
Twitter: @nth_dim
Facebook: Nth Dimensions
Organization: Orthopaedic Diversity Leadership Consortium (ODLC)
Speaker: Dr. Erica Taylor, MD, MBA (Founder and Executive Director of ODLC)
Mission: To optimize the effectiveness and sustainability of diversity efforts in academic departments and healthcare organizations through the professional development and advancement of orthopaedic surgery diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders
Initiatives: ODLC Network Meet-Ups, Educational Series, Transformation Talks, Online Engagement Communities, ODLC-Cornell Certificate Programs, Medical Device Industry Partnerships
Research paper: Taylor E, Dacus AR, Oni J, Suleiman LI. An Introduction to the Orthopaedic Diversity Leadership Consortium: Advancement of Our Orthopaedic Leaders of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through Networking, Strategy, and Innovation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2022 Aug 17;104(16):e72. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.21.01350.
Contact Info:
Website: www.orthodiversity.org
Twitter: @SurgeonLeader42, @OrthoLeaderDEI
Organization: The Perry Initiative
Speaker: Dr. Katherine Coyner, MD, MBA (Treasurer, Board of Directors of The Perry Initiative)
Mission: The mission of The Perry Initiative is to inspire young women to be leaders in the fields of orthopaedic surgery and engineering, two fields in which women are drastically under-represented. Women are <8% of practicing orthopaedics surgeons and ~12% of practicing engineers. Diverse partners, including health care providers and medical device engineers, are better able to care for diverse patient populations and create solutions to unmet clinical needs
Initiatives: Medical Student Outreach Program, Perry Outreach Program, Perry Virtual Experience, Orthopaedics in Action
Contact Info:
Website: www.perryinitiative.org
Instagram: @PerryInitiative
Twitter: @PerryInitiative
Facebook: The Perry Initiative
Email: info@perryinitiative.org
Organization: Pride Ortho
Speaker: Dr. Jamie Bellamy, DO (Vice President of Pride Ortho)
Mission: Pride Ortho is a community of proactive lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) individuals and their allies with a mission to provide mentorship, networking in a safe space, and a sense of belonging for members of our orthopaedic community. We focus on education and research and promote diversity, equity, and inclusivity to improve quality of care for LGBTQ+ orthopaedic patients. We aim to increase diversity and inclusivity of the orthopaedic LGBTQ+ community and promote professional development of LGBTQ+ people of all backgrounds to succeed throughout all stages of their career
Initiatives: Away Rotation Scholarships, LGBTQ+ Friendly Lists, Mentorship Program, Outlist and ALLYlist, Research Programs.
Contact Info:
Website: www.prideortho.org
Instagram: @prideortho
Twitter: @pride_ortho
Facebook: PrideOrtho
Organization: Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society
Speaker: Dr. Christen Russo, MD (President of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society)
Mission: To promote the professional development of women in orthopaedics throughout all stages of their career
Initiatives: RJOS Guide for Medical Students, RJOS Committee Positions, Scholarships for Annual Meetings, Research Symposiums, Medical Student Chapters
Contact Info:
Website: www.rjos.org
Instagram: @RuthJacksonOrtho / RJOSMedStudents
Twitter: @RJOSociety / RJOSmedstudent
Facebook: Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society
Email: info@rjos.org
Breakout Room Sessions
Gender Diversity in Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Katherine Coyner
LGBTQIA+ in Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Ashley Rogerson
Dr. Mark Schultzel
Dr. Ramon Jimenez
Dr. Cassandra Pino
Dr. William Ross
Dr. Rashard Dacus
Summary: In a breakout room dedicated to gender diversity, two prominent speakers, Dr. Russo and Dr. Coyner, emphasized the importance of unity and resilience in the field of orthopedics. Dr. Coyner stressed the importance of actively involving colleagues in promoting diversity, and Dr. Russo highlighted the significance of standing up and speaking out. Both doctors shared their experiences as pioneers in their programs and emphasized the value of allies, even amongst those who may not share the same gender.
Summary: In a breakout room dedicated to LGBTQIA+ individuals in orthopedic surgery, three prominent speakers, Dr. Bellamy, Dr. Rogerson, and Dr. Schultzel emphasized the deeply personal nature of sharing one's LGBTQIA+ identity. They shared experiences that highlighted the challenges of disclosing one's identity during medical training and underscored the growth of the LGBTQIA+ community in orthopedic surgery. Signs of progress included policy changes and shifts in attitudes. To assess an orthopaedic surgery program's LGBTQIA+ friendliness, attendees were encouraged to consult current residents and students for insights, evaluate leadership positions and promotions, and observe program behavior during rotations.
Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Orthopedic Surgery
Summary: In a breakout room dedicated to racial and ethnic minorities in orthopaedic surgery, three prominent speakers, Dr. Jimenez, Dr. Pino, and Dr. Ross addressed the challenges encountered by individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. They provided guidance on how to identify mentors and highlighted the cyclical nature of progress for racial and ethnic minorities, emphasizing the significance of those who paved the way for others like them. Additionally, they encouraged attendees not to feel unwarranted guilt about occupying space in the field, reassuring them they will not be diversity hires, but highly qualified and essential contributors to the orthopaedic surgery community.
Creating, Leading, Sustaining Successful DEIA Initiatives in Orthopedic Surgery
Summary: In a breakout room dedicated to creating, leading, and sustaining successful DEIA initiatives in orthopaedic surgery, two prominent speakers, Dr. Taylor and Dr. Dacus shared key insights. They stressed the importance of going beyond superficial allyship, emphasizing the need for action and amplification of underrepresented voices. Their discussion covered the process of starting DEIA committees, including understanding the concept of value proposition and seeking strong partnerships, and highlighted the importance of defining clear metrics, securing funding, and maintaining long-term support. Both speakers underscored the significance of authenticity, vulnerability, and human connection in leadership roles, encouraging outreach to diverse communities and fostering relationships to drive meaningful change.
Mentorship in Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Caroline Tougas
Summary: In a breakout room dedicated to mentorship in orthopedic surgery, two prominent speakers, Dr. Samora and Dr. Tougas emphasized the pivotal role of mentorship in achieving and sustaining success in this field. They advocated for the value of having multiple mentors who can provide guidance for various aspects of one's career and life. Additionally, they highlighted the importance of mutually beneficial mentor relationships and encouraged attendees to be persistent in both seeking and maintaining these relationships. Attendees were also advised to tap into resources offered by different organizations and affinity groups to help find mentors, advance their education, and actively participate in their desired mentorship experiences.