Reaching back to enhance the future: the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pipeline Program

Abstract

ObjectivesThere are significant disparities in the surgical workforce in comparison with medical student demographics. Pipeline programs have shown to be effective in addressing gaps. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee designed a longitudinal pipeline program with high school student mentees and surgeon mentors providing an in-person hands-on workshop.MethodsThe mentee demographics and socioeconomic status at the time of application were determined using overall percentages and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Program application essays were qualitatively analyzed for common themes. The pre-workshop and post-workshop and 6-month follow-up surveys were analyzed for mentee experience and areas for improvement.ResultsMentees selected were 30% male (N=3 of 10), 70% female (N=7 of 10), 50% black or African American (N=5 of 10) and 30% Hispanic or Latinx (N=3 of 10). The majority of mentees were in the most disadvantaged groups in their state by the ADI (N=8 of 9, 89%). Many of the application essays highlighted a personal loss as driving the interest in a health career with several of those losses based on ‘gun violence’. There was under-representation in medicine racial/ethnic or gender concordance for 80% (N=8 of 10) of the mentee–mentor pairings. In the pre-workshop survey, even those students with high-grade point averages and strong academic achievement in science courses indicated low confidence in their ability to succeed. Most students (N=7 of 10, 70%) reported a strong positive connection with their mentor in the post-workshop survey. There was a reduction in self-identified modifiable barriers to success for 83% (N=5 of 6) of the mentees. One-third of students who responded to the 6-month survey indicated that they had issues with maintaining contact with their mentors after the workshop.ConclusionThe pipeline program was able to reach the target demographic and increase interest in surgery. Positive mentee/mentor relationships were formed. There are improvements to be made in longitudinal components of the program to ensure lasting results.Level of evidenceIII.

A pathway program to increase diversity in surgery: experience from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

“…1 2 Strong et al examined the impact of a pathway program, established by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, on high school (HS) students with healthcare career interests. 3 We applaud the authors for implementing and evaluating a pathway program to improve diversity in surgery.The study identified 10 HS students, primarily from a medical career exposure program at the University of Chicago and assigned them to faculty mentors with similar backgrounds (eg, gender, racial and ethnic concordance). Students were expected to meet four times virtually, or in-person, during an academic year and to attend a workshop held at the AAST annual meeting.…”

“… 1 2 Strong et al examined the impact of a pathway program, established by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, on high school (HS) students with healthcare career interests. 3 We applaud the authors for implementing and evaluating a pathway program to improve diversity in surgery.…”