Breaking barriers and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in trauma and acute care surgery: A current perspective

Abstract

ABSTRACT The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in trauma and acute care surgery (ACS) has become increasingly apparent in the field of medicine. Despite the growing diversity of the patient population, the surgical specialty has traditionally been dominated by White males. This involves increasing the representation of diverse individuals in leadership positions, professional societies, scholarships, graduate education, and practicing physicians. This opinion piece aims to address the gaps in the literature regarding DEI in trauma and acute care surgery and highlight the issues related to the workforce, gender gap, patient outcomes, and health services. To effectively guide DEI interventions, it is essential to capture patient-reported experience data and stratify outcomes by factors including race, ethnicity, ancestry, language, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Only then can generalizable findings effectively inform DEI strategies. Using validated measurement tools, it is essential to conduct these assessments with methodological rigor. Collaboration between health care institutions can also provide valuable insights into effective and ineffective intervention practices through information exchange and constructive feedback. These recommendations aim to address the multifactorial nature of health care inequities in trauma and ACS. However, successful DEI interventions require a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving observed disparities, necessitating further research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V.