The UAB Department of Surgery has several ongoing diversity, equity and inclusions (DEI) strategies in the areas of culture, accountability, hiring and training.

In addition to yearly lectures and events, such as the Women in Surgery lectureship and the UAB/Vickers Visiting Professorship for SBAS members under the age of 45, the department offers ongoing research training, awards and scholarships, clerkship and observership programs, and communications initiatives. But, department faculty are not stopping there.

Over the last several weeks, and in the coming months, many faculty have- or will- take the time to participate in DEI events at other academic medical institutions across the nation. Learn more about their involvement in furthering education and understanding in the realm of DEI.

Chair of the Department of Surgery and UAB Hospital and Health System Surgeon-in-Chief Herbert Chen, M.D., FACS

• In July, Chen moderated a University of Michigan Medicine event “Cultural Complications Webinar: Why, How, and Lessons Learned.” The webinar addressed why and how to implement a Cultural Complications curriculum at an academic institution.
• On Oct. 7 from 4:15 – 5:45 p.m. ET, Chen will speak on the American College of Surgeons panel on "Reducing Implicit Bias: Best Practice Recommendations for Surgical Organizations". He will cover the topic "Solutions: Faculty Retention and Promotion.”

Gastrointestinal Surgery Associate Professor and Grand Rounds Committee Member Daniel Chu, M.D.

• On Aug. 26, Chu was the moderator, along with Callisia Clarke, M.D. for a presentation on allyship with the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS). Those who attended heard leaders in the surgical field discuss allyship and learned how everyone can become an effective ally.

Pediatric Surgery Associate Professor, Associate Vice Chair of DEI, and Program Co-Director for Pre-College Research Internship for Students from Minority Backgrounds (PRISM) Colin Martin, M.D., FACS

• On Sep. 16 at 8 p.m. ET, Martin will be the guest speaker of the AAS seminar titled “How to Navigate Virtual Interviews – Guidance for Institutions.” He will give a lecture on how to write an equitable letter of recommendation.
• Additionally, on Dec. 4 during an AAS Early Career Development Course “Preparing to Lead” Martin will speak during the AAS session “Diversity and Inclusion” on the topic of “Leading the Conversation around Diversity and Inclusion in Academic Surgery.” The session will start at 3:10 p.m. ET.

Cardiothoracic Surgery Associate Professor, Associate Vice Chair of DEI, and Program Co-Director for Pre-College Research Internship for Students from Minority Backgrounds (PRISM) Sara Pereira, M.D., FACS

• Pereira will speak at the University of Utah Health 3rd Annual Department of Surgery Education Retreat on the Q&A panel, “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & the Learning Environment” on Sep. 18 from 10-11 a.m. MDT

Learn more about the department’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.