Bridging the representation gap in the surgical workforce: a scoping review protocol of programmes and interventions to support surgical careers for underrepresented minority learners

Aljeena R Qureshi ¹, Negeen Halabian ¹, Armaan K Malhotra ^2,3,4

⁰Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Bmj Open +

|

October 27, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This scoping review examines interventions to increase underrepresented minority (URM) participation in surgical careers. It maps current programs and policies to address disparities in surgical education and training.

Area Of Science

Medical Education
Surgical Training
Diversity and Inclusion

Background

Underrepresented minorities (URM) are disproportionately underrepresented in surgical training and leadership roles.
Barriers including financial constraints, limited mentorship, and implicit bias hinder URM progression in surgery.
Existing interventions lack systematic evaluation of their effectiveness in enhancing URM representation.

Purpose Of The Study

To conduct a scoping review of interventions, programs, and policies aimed at increasing access to surgical careers for URM learners.
To map the current landscape of strategies designed to improve URM representation in surgical education.
To identify and categorize existing approaches to address diversity gaps in surgery.

Main Methods

Comprehensive literature searches will be performed across EMBASE, Web of Science, and OVID MEDLINE.
Three independent reviewers will screen studies, extract data, and analyze findings, with a fourth reviewer adjudicating disagreements.
The review encompasses all training levels (secondary, postsecondary, postgraduate) and accepts diverse definitions of URM status as reported within studies.

Main Results

Data extraction will focus on the nature, duration, and target population of interventions.
The primary outcome will be the reported impact of interventions on URM representation in surgical education.
Secondary outcomes include participant characteristics, URM definitions, and qualitative/quantitative evaluations of effectiveness.

Conclusions

This review will provide a comprehensive overview of current strategies to enhance URM participation in surgical education.
Findings will inform future interventions and policies aimed at promoting diversity and equity in surgical training.
Dissemination will occur through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publication.

Keywords:

Health Equity MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING SURGERY Schools, Medical Sexual and Gender Minorities

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