Programmatic engagement in diversity, equity, and inclusion in U.S. vascular surgery training programs. Journal Article

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Authors: Bose, S; Kowalczyk, B; Aulivola, B; Amankwah, K; Smeds, MR
Article Title: Programmatic engagement in diversity, equity, and inclusion in U.S. vascular surgery training programs.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Given the diversity of populations that modern healthcare professionals treat, there has been an increasing call for academic medical centers to ensure that they themselves are diverse and inclusive. Historically, this has been measured by the composition of the workforce in terms of protected categories such as race/ethnicity, gender, and disability. However, these broad categories do a poor job of reflecting the actual ability of the organization to engage with a diverse workforce and patient population. The Diversity and Engagement Survey (DES) is a specifically constructed and validated instrument designed to measure the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within academic medical centers. The goal of this study is to utilize this survey with Vascular Surgery program directors, to determine the predictors of low DEI in Vascular Surgery training programs. METHODS: An anonymous electronic survey was sent to all program directors and assistant program directors of vascular surgery training programs (residencies and fellowships) in the United States (n=280). This survey consisted of 18 sections comprised of 53 questions including details of the respondent, demographics, programmatic information including information on diversity of faculty and trainees, resources available to enhance DEI within the program, institutional attitudes towards employees and the diversity and engagement survey (DES) itself. The total score from the DES section was used to stratify institutions - they were classified as low DEI if they scored in the bottom 25% percentile of overall scores, the rest were labeled high DEI. Univariate analysis was used to determine if there were any important differences in demographics or survey responses between institutions that were low DEI versus high DEI. A multivariate logistic regression was also performed utilizing demographic variables and responses to survey questions to determine their relationship to DEI status. RESULTS: There were a total of 102 complete responses to the survey (36.4% response rate). There were a higher proportion of women (66.67%) compared to men (33.30%) in the low DEI cohort, even though they were only 28.4% of the overall cohort. There was a statistically significant difference between high-DEI and low-DEI institutions in the proportion of those who responded yes, no, or preferred not to disclose whether they had experienced discrimination or hurtful comments (p0.001) with 71% of respondents in the low DEI institutions reporting this experience compared to only 11% in high DEI institutions. The multivariate analysis also demonstrated that non-male gender (OR 5.10, p=0.034) and experiences of discrimination (OR 6.51, p=0.024) were associated with low DEI institutions. CONCLUSION: Non-male program directors and those who had experienced discrimination at their institution were significantly more likely to find that their institutions had low DEI.
Journal Title: Journal of vascular surgery
ISSN: 1097-6809; 0741-5214
Publisher: Mosby, Inc  
Date Published: 2022
LUC Authors
  1. Bernadette Aulivola
    35 Aulivola
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