Disparities and Cultural Engagement

The Department of Surgery is dedicated to creating an environment where innovation fosters a culture dedicated to shaping the field of surgery to be more representative of our patient population. Our goal is to continue to expand our cultural understanding within our talented team, which leads to improved patient-centered care.

To achieve this vision, Sharee Wright, M.D., vice chair of Disparities Education and Cultural Dexterity in the Department of Surgery, and her team secured a $25,000 OneMUSC FY23 Strategy Grant to develop a comprehensive curriculum for the department.One major aspect of this new curriculum was the installation of a Cultural Dexterity Wall in the Clinical Sciences Building 4th floor elevator lobby. Two digital displays greet people as they step out of the elevators, featuring a variety of interactive content such as information about upcoming group discussions, an interactive world map, heritage month slides on historical figures and people of interest, and Our Voices, a series of vignettes reflecting on the array of lived experiences of our faculty, students,researchers, staff, and alumni.“We are creating a space that is ielcoming to everybody,”says Wright. “This wall represents our recognition that our department includes people with different beliefs, lives, and backgrounds and that we are all intertwined to make us the amazing department that we are – ultimately serving each other, our patients, and our community.” Small Group Discussions also play an important role in achieving this vision.

CREATING SPACE FOR  CULTURAL DEXTERITY

Each month, team members are invited to participate in discussions on different topics related to cultural dexterity. These small, in person groups provide a more casual setting for people to share their own experiences and learn from each other.“We have always had a strong focus on clinical education and innovation, and creating a safe space and tolerance across the department has been an important tenant to our success,” said Prabhakar Baliga, M.D.“Under Dr. Wright’s leadership, we have pushed forward on our efforts to be even more culturally dexterous making our department a place where everyone feels welcome and feels like they belong."