TY - JOUR
T1 - An Organizational Approach to Addressing Racism in Orthopaedic Surgery
T2 - AOA Critical Issues Symposium
AU - Brooks, Jaysson T.
AU - Dixon, Tonya
AU - Simpson Mason, Bonnie
AU - Archdeacon, Michael
N1 - Funding Information:
As the mission of the Nth Dimensions program is to increase the diversity of the orthopaedic workforce and decrease health inequities, the presented outcomes suggest that strategic pipeline programs yield encouraging results. The unique characteristics of this successful pipeline program include a phased approach to the longitudinal development of prospective orthopaedic residents, which is generously supported by volunteer practicing orthopaedic surgeons who serve as preceptors, along with financial support from a variety of sources. The continued development and support of pipeline programs such as Nth Dimensions and the Perry Initiative are warranted so that increased orthopaedic workforce diversity can be realized.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 THE AUTHORS. PUBLISHED BY THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY, INCORPORATED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PY - 2022/10/19
Y1 - 2022/10/19
N2 - This article highlights the key topics that were presented at a symposium of the American Orthopaedic Association in May 2021, with the primary objectives of acknowledging the existence of systemic racism within the field of orthopaedic surgery, developing a plan for combating racism before it manifests within orthopaedic departments and practices, and understanding the benefit of pipeline programs in diversifying the orthopaedic surgeon workforce. When the word racism is mentioned among a group of orthopaedic surgeons, it may have the immediate effect of stifling honest conversations. Therefore, the crippling effects of racism within orthopaedic surgery are not addressed, and there are downstream effects that influence patient care by perpetuating disparities in health care. If orthopaedic departments want to fix the lack of diversity within the specialty, the magnitude of the problem must first be measured. Fortunately, through the efforts of the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society, data sets are being created that better measure the diversity of individual orthopaedic residency programs. In addition to hiring diverse faculty, orthopaedic departments and practices should focus on the mentorship, sponsorship, retention, and promotion of these faculty. Finally, pipeline programs such as Nth Dimensions have a proven track record for improving the diversity of the orthopaedic workforce and can serve as the primary mechanism employed by departments and practices in making their orthopaedic surgeon workforce look more like the demographics of the United States.
AB - This article highlights the key topics that were presented at a symposium of the American Orthopaedic Association in May 2021, with the primary objectives of acknowledging the existence of systemic racism within the field of orthopaedic surgery, developing a plan for combating racism before it manifests within orthopaedic departments and practices, and understanding the benefit of pipeline programs in diversifying the orthopaedic surgeon workforce. When the word racism is mentioned among a group of orthopaedic surgeons, it may have the immediate effect of stifling honest conversations. Therefore, the crippling effects of racism within orthopaedic surgery are not addressed, and there are downstream effects that influence patient care by perpetuating disparities in health care. If orthopaedic departments want to fix the lack of diversity within the specialty, the magnitude of the problem must first be measured. Fortunately, through the efforts of the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society, data sets are being created that better measure the diversity of individual orthopaedic residency programs. In addition to hiring diverse faculty, orthopaedic departments and practices should focus on the mentorship, sponsorship, retention, and promotion of these faculty. Finally, pipeline programs such as Nth Dimensions have a proven track record for improving the diversity of the orthopaedic workforce and can serve as the primary mechanism employed by departments and practices in making their orthopaedic surgeon workforce look more like the demographics of the United States.
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U2 - 10.2106/JBJS.21.01417
DO - 10.2106/JBJS.21.01417
M3 - Review article
C2 - 36260048
AN - SCOPUS:85140415955
SN - 0021-9355
VL - 104
SP - E88
JO - Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
JF - Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
IS - 20
ER -