Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A strategic priority for the American Pediatric Surgical Association

The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) is a professional organization composed of over 1500 members dedicated to providing high-quality surgical care infants and children. was founded in 1969 with the mission “ensure optimal pediatric patients their families, promote excellence field, foster vibrant viable community surgeons.” In collaboration other national international organizations, APSA creates educational guidelines standard policies for that influence public policy set best practices.[1]American Surgery Association. https://eapsa.org/apsa-info/about-us/, Accessed 21 July 2019.Google Scholar recognizes broad diversity United States population membership leadership our not reflective this diversity. Board Governors (BOG) has recently committed advance diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) all aspects surgery. APSA's strategic prioritization DEI presented paper. (Table 1)Table 1Position statements endorsed by Association.Position on supported APSAAPSA acknowledges potential enhanced productivity, creativity, innovation within diverse organizations.APSA positive impact cadre surgeons may have healthcare outcomes, patient satisfaction, compliance.APSA adopts “Equity social justice” as fifth pillar its organizational statement “Inclusion, representation, participation all” foundation pillars.APSA endorses activities member committee study promotion surgery.APSA supports implicit bias assessment enhance awareness generate discussion reflection regarding existing disparities surgery patients.APSA urges medical schools, general residency programs, training programs enact measures targeted at increasing learners who will become surgeons.APSA encourages transparency intentional hiring practices are inclusive, fair, open women, underrepresented minority groups, disabilities, all.APSA champions establishment mentorship sponsorship specifically aimed retention recruitment women uniformly condemns discrimination, racism, verbal physical abuse, sexual harassment.APSA promotes importance wellness, mental health, work-life balance well-being health outcomes advocates efforts create workplaces conducive new parents levels practice.APSA pledges engage initiatives strategies address differential related determinants health.APSA commits achieving benchmarks quest increased among leadership. 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Now ever before, perspectives creative solutions required fulfill missions ensuring field. extending ideas realm surgery, we assert complex served active, engaged repertoires, backgrounds. seeks talents group surest way achieve highest quality next generation challenges task requires multi-faceted approach designed organization's performance, support members, position us accomplish aspirational goal work force those serve. To comprehensively build factors, created termed Social Justice” modified pillars read all.” (Fig. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee (DEI Committee) established summer guide arena, selected membership. Through process iterative revision, created:Diversity, core values research, education, advocacy, We broaden across cultural, demographic, cognitive, style domains. Our environment attain greatest potential, eliminate inequities, provide all. 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