Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Where All Surgeons Are Welcome

Diversity Equity Inclusion

By: Nicole D. Goulet, MD, FACS

Published: 10/19/2021

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A new organization promotes acceptance and inclusivity.

I’m five years removed from training to become a critical care surgeon. It was during my medical school surgical rotation that I became fully aware of the need for a supportive network for LGBTQ+ surgeons. The chief resident yelled down a crowded hallway to tell my male colleague that the drawstring duffle bag he was carrying made him look like a faggot. It was a sickening moment, and at the time I remember thinking I couldn’t enter the OR feeling comfortable with who I am. You’d like to believe something like that wouldn’t happen today, but some surgical professionals still make derogatory and insensitive comments. It’s difficult to repeatedly hear that type of language, especially when you’re training to enter the field of surgery.

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I’m friends with other gay physicians and we’d always talked about expanding our support circle by forming an association that creates a safe space for LGBTQ+ surgeons and their allies. In 2009, we launched the Association of Out Surgeons and Allies (AOSA) with the goal of developing a mentorship program for medical students, residents and faculty members. One of the organization’s main objectives is to show trainees they can be part of the LGBTQ+ community and pursue a career in surgery. We want surgery to be a more accepting field so everyone — regardless of their sexual orientation, identity or preferences — feels comfortable in the profession. The organization also intends to provide LGBTQ+ surgeons with the skills they need to advance their careers.

National surgical organizations have created diversity, equity and inclusion committees within the past couple of years, but surgery is a difficult specialty in which to be any type of minority surgeon. It’s even more difficult to be a surgeon within the LGBTQ+ community because there aren’t a lot of us offering vocal support. We therefore want AOSA to serve as a liaison network for other surgical organizations and residencies in order to help them increase inclusivity through policies and practice.

A limited number of studies show there is significant emotional strife among LGBTQ+ trainees and attendings. It’s difficult for us to fit in and it can be very isolating when you don’t feel comfortable talking openly about your personal life with colleagues. We believe AOSA’s influence will increase awareness of these issues and show LGBTQ+ surgeons throughout the country that they’re not alone. It’s important that they feel accepted by a supportive organization.

One of the organization's main objectives is to show trainees they can be part of the LGBTQ+ community and pursue a career in surgery.

Only 10% of the nation’s population identifies as LGBTQ+ and that percentage is far less among surgeons. Allies make up a much larger percentage of surgical professionals, so they’re important members of AOSA. We rely on them to support our efforts, promote the organization and serve as upstanders. They won’t let homophobic remarks, disparaging comments or unwelcoming practices go unnoticed or unaddressed within their institutions or facilities.

We decided to create AOSA with a focus on surgeons in order to first address equity deficiencies within our own field. The organization is currently comprised of 70 members. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from other surgical organizations, including the Association for Academic Surgery, and we’re a liaison to the Association of Women Surgeons. We’re currently making strides in working closely with other leading surgical organizations.

AOSA is gradually growing through word of mouth and outreach on social media. The pandemic has limited our in-person networking opportunities and stalled our ability to grow the organization significantly, but we’re pushing forward with efforts to increase awareness of our mission and goals. We believe these efforts will ultimately improve the care of LGBTQ+ patients by informing all surgeons of culturally sensitive practices based on expressions of affirmation and acceptance.

By addressing inequalities within the LGBTQ+ surgeon community and growing our network of support, surgeons will be able to pursue and advance their careers with dignity and without stigma, judgement or discrimination. We hope you support our movement, join the organization and get the word out about its important mission. OSM

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