DEI One specialty, many voices, diverse perspectives

Jun 02, 2021 Re-posted from the June 2021 issue of Vascular Specialist

By Laura Marie Drudi, MD, Rebeca Reachi Lugo, MD, and Kathryn Bowser, MD on behalf of the SVS DEI Committee

Over the course of the last year, the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has been on a journey toward fostering greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). From the nadir of #Medbikini almost a year ago, the SVS Executive Board has since embraced and published a report from the SVS DEI Task Force—now a full-fledged committee—that called for action and change. Here, as members of the new DEI Committee, we introduce a Vascular Specialist focused issue that probes what the world of vascular surgery looks like for minorities, women and those of diverse sexual orientations—not only from the point of view of surgeons, but also trainees, nurses and patients. Guest editorialist Bhagwan Satiani, MD, kicks off the discussion with a personal reflection on overcoming prejudice. This is followed by three personal stories dealing with sexuality and a report on ways to promote women into leadership roles in our specialty. As we mark Pride Month, our DEI journey continues.

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