Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
WHAT DOES DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION MEAN TO US?
At the Department of Surgery, we are constantly learning and evolving to provide exceptional care to the populations we serve. We recognize that an integral part of that process is understanding the history, structures, and environments within our teams, facilities, and community. Our belief is that all individuals that we care for and work with experience esteem for their backgrounds, as well as support to advance and thrive within our institution.
In order to do this persistently, we prioritize the following:
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We actively engage with people from all facets of our department to develop and sustain inclusive policies and practices;
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We analyze our systems and structures through a multi-faceted lens (training, culture, research, education, and patient safety) to allocate appropriate resources and implement targeted initiatives;
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We consistently educate and train our faculty, staff, and trainees to identify, report, and reject intolerance and discrimination of any kind in our workplace;
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We address our individual and collective biases through scholarship and quality improvement so we can deliver equitable healthcare outcomes for all of our patients, regardless of their status or background
The Department of Surgery (DOS) is committed to fostering a just culture that supports diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and well-being of our community.
We acknowledge that ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion' is not a goal to achieve but to work towards. Always. Ultimately, we are committed to creating an optimal environment for all people to work, research, educate, train, and receive care with dignity and humility. Throughout this page, we have outlined our goals, action plans, programs, and resources for further learning.
Please reach out to us at dosadmin@umn.edu for more information or to directly connect with our team.
Statement of Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We pledge to:
- Educate and train our faculty, staff and trainees to identify and reject intolerance, discrimination, racism and other injustice on our workplace
- Champion diversity
- Change systems and organizational structures so we can deliver equitable health care outcomes for all of our patients regardless of their socioeconomic status
- Offer equity to all who work in the Department of Surgery as we recruit, hire, coach, promote and support each other
- Develop, implement and sustain policies and practices to foster and achieve inclusion, i.e. a sense of belonging and well-being within our Department, our clinical care units, our operating rooms, our classrooms and our research units and laboratories
SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY: RESPONDING TO THE KILLING OF AMIR LOCKE
The Department of Surgery issues a statement regarding the death of Amir Locke, who was shot and killed by an officer when Minneapolis Police entered a downtown apartment on a search warrant while he was lying under a blanket on a couch.
STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD
The University of Minnesota Medical School community mourns the death of George Floyd. We are outraged by the brutal manner of his death and the role racism played in the callous disregard for his life.
RECENT DOS PUBLICATIONS FOCUSED ON HEALTH EQUITY
Researchers in the department of surgery publish health equity research broadly in journals.
IMPLICIT BIAS IN SURGERY
Melissa Brunsvold, MD presented a talk about how implicit bias impacts surgery – including healthcare outcomes, education, and faculty and staff recruitment and retention.