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How can pediatric surgeons address racism and become actively anti-racist?
Oluwatomilayo O Daodu1, Shahrzad Joharifard2, Dickens Saint-Vil3
1University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
Insights
Pediatric surgeons must actively dismantle systemic racism to protect patients. Recommendations include enhancing anti-racism education, changing behaviors, and promoting diversity in leadership to create equitable health systems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Health Equity
- Anti-Racism in Medicine
Background:
- Systemic racism negatively impacts patients and trainees in Canadian pediatric surgery.
- Pediatric surgeons possess unique expertise to address health system inequities.
- Professional obligation necessitates transforming systems to prevent racism-related harm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for pediatric surgeons to dismantle systemic racism.
- To outline the history and impact of racism within the Canadian surgical context.
- To provide practical recommendations for anti-racist practices.
Main Methods:
- Review of the history and impact of racism in Canadian pediatric surgery.
- Development of practical recommendations for surgeons.
- Focus on individual and organizational change strategies.
Main Results:
- Four key recommendations for anti-racism initiatives:
- 1. Enhance anti-racism education.
- 2. Promote individual behavioral change.
- 3. Implement organizational change strategies.
- 4. Foster diversity in leadership.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric surgeons are agents of change in combating racism.
- Meaningful steps can be taken to create anti-racist health systems.
- Transforming health and social systems is crucial for patient well-being.
Background/Purpose:
This is an article submitted on behalf of the Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons. We assert that Pediatric Surgeons must work to dismantle systemic racism. Pediatric Surgeons have expertise in both common and rare surgical diseases affecting patients ranging from premature neonates to adolescents. Thus, our professional obligation is to transform our health and social systems to prevent the harms of racism to our patients.
Methods:
Specific to the Canadian context, we describe a brief history, the ongoing impact on individuals and communities, and the harmful effect on the surgical community and trainees. Finally, we developed a series of practical recommendations to help surgeons become actively anti-racist.
Results:
Four primary recommendations are made: (1) Increasing and supporting anti-racism education; (2) Changing individual behaviours to combat racism; (3) Developing strategies for organizational change; and (4) Committing to diversity in leadership.
Conclusion:
As surgeons, we are actors of change, and we can take meaningful steps to combat racism in our health systems.
Level Of Evidence:
V.
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