Diversity Equity and Inclusion Update

The Department of Surgery is dedicated to creating an environment where innovation fosters inclusive excellence and cultural dexterity at MUSC and in the field of surgery.

To achieve this vision, Sharee Wright, M.D., vice chair of Diversity,Equity and Inclusion 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 Diversity and Inclusion Wall in the Clinical Sciences Building 4thfloorelevator 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 diverse lived experiences of our faculty, students,researchers, staff, and alumni.“We are creating a space that is inclusive and welcoming to everybody,”says Wright. “This wall represents our recognition that our department is inclusive of 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 INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE AND CULTURAL DEXTERITY

Each month, team members are invited to participate in discussions on different topics related to Diversity and Inclusion. 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, the foundation of which is a diverse population, 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 inclusive and increase our cultural dexterity,making our department a place where everyone feels welcome and feels like they belong.”The anonymous quote on the Diversity and Inclusion Wall encapsulates our essence and serves as a positive reflection to all who walk by it:“The beauty of the world lies in the diversity of its people.”

NEXT STEPS

We are developing a summer immersion work experience for URiM college students interested in careers in medicine,expanding our visiting student rotations, and creating a disparities and cultural symposium with a focus on the intersection of culture and medicine – with the ultimate goal of creating a more diverse and culturally aware workforce in academic medicine. But we can’t do it without your help. To learn more about how you can open doors for URiM students and residents, please join us at https://bit.ly/SurgeryDEI