The Path to Academic Success: Perspectives of a LGBTQ+ Chairof Surgery

There is a growing number of Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+). Unfortunately, in American surgery to date there has been a paucity of discussion about how to make our community as inclusive as possible for its LGBTQ+ members. General surgery learners, in particular, have been shown to be the subject of discrimination, harassment, and bullying. Therefore, it is the responsibility of leaders to deploy their positions of privilege and power to expand discussion and accelerate change by serving as role models and thoughtful advocates. An abbreviated tool kit is provided to get the dialogue and process started. Leading by example, with courage, and enrolling LGBTQ+ colleagues and their allies to organize are critical to accelerate structural change; institutional processes must follow. Training and education are essential. Benefits will be the diversification of the house of surgery and improved patient care.