Promoting diversity in orthopaedic surgery

Midway News Promoting diversity in orthopaedic surgery

BY KATE DOHNER Although more than half of medical students

today are women, they make up only 6.5% of orthopaedic surgeons, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Less than 2% of those practicing are Black, just 2.2% are Hispanic, and 0.4% are Native American. The Simon Diversity Scholar Fund, established and endowed by Barbara and Michael Simon, MD, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Chicago, aims to change that. By supporting generations of highly engaged faculty who become Simon Diversity Scholars, the couple’s gift will establish a legacy of leadership in fostering diversity and inclusion in the field of orthopaedic surgery. Each scholar will serve a three-year term dedicated to activities that help maintain and build diversity in the field. The scholars will develop as mentors and patient advocates, while also encouraging students to pursue orthopaedic surgery. “Exposing a diverse group of high school, college and medical students to orthopaedic surgery early is key,” said Megan Conti Mica, MD, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine and the inaugural Simon Diversity Scholar. “When I meet with students, I share that I am an orthopaedic surgeon, but also a wife and mother with hobbies outside of medicine. I want to show them that they can still be an orthopaedic surgeon, even if they don’t fit the stereotypical mold.”

Conti Mica is also arranging forums for students to engage with female orthopaedic surgeons across the country to learn about topics like work-life balance and navigating residency programs. As the inaugural scholar, Conti Mica will also lend her perspective to faculty search committees and PHOTO BY JEAN LACHAT diversity and inclusion committees within her department and beyond. The Simons, who lived in Hyde Park for 22 years and raised their three daughters there, sought to not only diversify the field but also help patients in their community. “The faculty and trainees should mirror the patients we serve,” Michael Simon said. “We hope our gift will help the department to recruit and retain more diverse faculty, so that we can better Orthopaedic surgeon serve our patients.” Megan Conti Mica, MD, To this end, Conti Mica seeks to conduct is the inaugural Simon research related to health disparities that affect the Diversity Scholar. patients she sees. Though less widely publicized than disparities in other areas like maternal mortality, heart disease, and cancer, orthopaedic surgery also has a history of disparities. “Some groups may not even be getting to surgery as much as others because of implicit biases,” said Douglas Dirschl, MD, Lowell T. Coggeshall Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine. For example, studies show patients of color are less likely to receive knee and hip replacements or care for hip fractures than white patients. “It’s not enough for us to appreciate diversity and treat each patient fairly,” Dirschl said. “We need to behave in ways that are anti-racist and bring that into our daily patient encounters.” The Simons are passionate about making an impact. “Our hope is that, through this gift, we can make a difference on the South Side of Chicago through the important work being led at UChicago Medicine,” Michael Simon said. Their gift also has the potential to touch lives across the country. “As each scholar gains expertise and knowledge in diversity and inclusion, they will begin to be included in committees and conversations beyond UChicago Medicine, where they can weigh in on these issues and affect change on a national stage,” Dirschl said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SIMON FAMILY

Three generations of the Simon family. From left, the adults are Dyan Simon, LAB’88, MD’97; Renee Aronsohn, LAB’91, MD’03; Andrew Aronsohn, MD; David Kalt; Michael Simon, MD; Eddie Talerman, LAB’88; Susan Kalt, LAB’86, MD’96; and Barbara Simon.