Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity improves the educational experience, strengthens our teams, makes us more effective problem solvers and helps us take care of those in need.
We value diversity and are accepting of all human differences such as race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, geography, disability and age.
We recognize that equity and social justice in our communities are essential to the health of our patients and the public at large.
The Department of Surgery is committed to creating an environment that fosters belonging, respect and value for all.
Our Progress
We're working hard but we know we still have much to do
2001
Asian Liver Center launches JoinJade, a global campaign to fight stigma, end transmission, and eliminate deaths associated with hepatitis B.
2004
The Division of General Surgery Residency Program begins attending AMEC/SNMA each year
2006
Samuel L. Kountz Scholarship is created
2011
Dr. Matias Bruzoni opens Stanford's Hispanic Clinic for Pediatric Surgery, a center with bilingual healthcare providers.
2016
Dr. Sherry Wren is named Department’s first Vice Chair for Diversity.
Surgery Department joins SCORE program
Read about our first participant, current General Surgery Resident Dr. Wilson Alobuia
General Surgery Resident Dr. Miquell Miller founds the GME Diversity Committee
2017
Diversity Training Program Cabinet is formed
Stanford Surgery hosts inaugural Diversity Lecture
2018
SMASH-Med Program welcomes inaugural class
Health Career Collaborative East Palo Alto Program initiated
2019
Stanford Surgery commits to photo-less applications.
J.E.D.I. Council is formed
2020
Stanford launches Cultural Competency Curriculum. Watch videos from the 2020 Session.
Cultural Complications Curriculum is integrated into Monthly M&Ms. Submit a Cultural QI case
Stanford Surgery DEI Award and Dr. Miquell Miller Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion are established.
Staff sub-committee launch email signature initiative for a more inclusive department. View resources.
2021
Staff Sub-Committee launches Buddy Program for new hires. Join here.
Research sub-committee submits ESTEEMED grant.
All staff members are required to attend 1hr of DEI education per quarter and submit to their supervisor as part of their annual review.
2022
Dr. Jill Helms succeeds Dr. Wren as Vice Chair of Diversity.
Programs for Medical Students
Samuel L. Kountz Diversity Fellowship in General Surgery
Established in 2008, this fellowship provides a stipend for a senior underrepresented minority student to participate in a sub-internship with Stanford's Division of General Surgery. Apply through SCORE!
Stanford Clinical Opportunity for Residency Experience (SCORE)
SCORE brings fourth-year medical students from diverse backgrounds to Stanford for a four-week residential clinical training program in one of our clinical departments.
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This course allows first-year medical students to participate in clinical experiences that inform their vision as future physicians.
Rising second-year medical students from Historically Black Medical Colleges (HBMCs) come to Stanford’s campus for an 8-week, full-time research program.
Funding Opportunities
Stanford Surgery Seed Grant Program
Each year, the department funds 3-6 faculty projects for total first round funding of $250,000. At least one research grant will be reserved for a proposal that addresses the topic of racial justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
JEDI Project Funding
The JEDI Council funds any type of project or initiative aimed at improving justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Funding is available to anyone (trainees, faculty, staff) who works within the Department of Surgery. These can be outreach projects, culture building projects, research projects, etc. These can have a focus on specific groups (trainees, faculty, staff, or others) or can have a broad goal aimed at the entire department. Funding is between $1,000 - $5,000 for the year, with consideration for more based on need and impact. If you are awarded funding, you will be expected to participate in the end of year presentation with all other project awardees to share projects and outcomes.
Programs for HS Students
Health Career Collaborative
Stanford Surgery faculty, trainees, and staff participate in the Health Career Collaborative with East Palo Alto High School. The three-year program is designed to inspire high school students to pursue careers in health and medicine.
SMASH-Med
Although SMASH Academy is a national program, SMASH-Med is unique to Stanford. The 8-week program exposes students to a range of healthcare careers through a series of interactive, hands-on sessions.
SSCCPP is a 6-week in-residence academic and personal enrichment program targeting San Francisco Bay Area community college students who have experienced academic or economic barriers in pursuing their postsecondary education. Participants will receive instruction in science strategies, research methodology, and topics in health care including health disparities, civic activism, community engagement, and leadership.
Each summer, STaRS hosts a group of talented young individuals who are interested in learning more about the fields of medicine and biomedical research for seven weeks. Interns work side-by-side with experienced clinician/scientist mentors, who will challenge, inspire, and guide them on their first steps toward a career in medicine and biomedical research. We welcome applications from under-represented minorities, first-generation, low income, and women candidates that possess tenacity and drive, enthusiasm, and curiosity. Prior lab experience is not a prerequisite because we recognize that some students don’t have the same opportunities as others to explore hands-on science. Passion, however, is essential.
MVLA Healthcare Career Pathways
This program introduces high school students (many of which are first-generation and low-income) from Mountain View Los Altos HS District to healthcare pathways through field trip visits to Stanford labs and discussions with diverse medical career professionals.
Cultural QI
Cultural Quality Improvement is a departmental-wide program to discuss, educate, and reflect on the interactions and situations often faced in the hospital that make department members feel uncomfortable, discriminated against, othered, or invalidated. The hospital is a complex environment with a myriad of communications and interactions between staff, colleagues, trainees, students, patients, and families that sometimes result in a situation that you wish would have been better. We are all working to improve, and discussing these situations is a way we can all improve and work on our professional development as departmental members, leaders, and educators.
Cultural QI cases are discussed at our monthly department M&M. Click here to submit a case.
Annual Events
Annual Diversity Lecture - March
Started in 2016, the Annual Diversity Lecture was created to showcase either diversity/equity/inclusion or professional development. The 2-day visit includes meetings with faculty, residents, and staff as well as additional talks with Stanford Med's Office of Faculty Development and Diversity, Faculty Women’s Forum, and/or other departments.
Our 2024-2025 DEI Speaker will be Dr. Wayne Fredrick. Join us for Grand Rounds on September 24, 2024.
Past Speakers
2018 Col. Jeff Hutchinson, MD
2019 Reshmi Jagsi, MD
2020 Tom Varghese Jr., MD
2021 Fatima Cody Stanford, MD
2022 Paris Buttler, MD
& Thomas Satterwhite, MD
2023 Sharmila Dissanike, MD
2024 Odi Ehie, MD
PRIDE - June
At Stanford Surgery, we believe #LoveIsLove. In addition to showing our support of the LGBTQ+ community throughout the month through the use of our Zoom background, the Staff sub-committee has also started the tradition of hosting a department PRIDE parade around campus. Although the inaugural 2021 event was limited to Department of Surgery and (our sister department) Emergency Medicine employees only, we hope future parades will include family members and addition StanfordMed departments.
Join our annual Pride Parade!
Women in Medicine Month - September
September is designated Women in Medicine month by the American Medical Association. Stanford Surgery participates by hosting an annual group photo before the first Department Meeting of the academic year. All faculty, trainees, researchers, and staff who identify as women are welcome to participate.
Social Media
All Stanford Surgery faculty and trainees who identify as women are encouraged to Tweet photos of themselves at work using the hashtags #StanfordWIM and #ilooklikeasurgeon throughout the month.
Culturally Inclusive Food Fair
The Culturally Inclusive Food Fairs were started by the Staff JEDI committee in 2022. Each event is based on a different culture or region of the world and features cuisine from locally-owned businesses. Past event have included African-American cuisines, Asian and Pacific Islands, Latin America, and the Middle East. All Department of Surgery faculty, staff, and trainees are welcome at these educational (and delicious!) events.
Awards
Stanford Surgery DEI Award
DEI Award Winners
2021
Cassidi Goll (staff)
Dr. Miquell Miller (resident)
2022
Pat Raines (Staff)
Dr. Jill Helms (faculty)
The Department of Surgery Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Award is to recognize annually both an individual staff and faculty/resident/fellow/post doc member who has consistently created opportunities for the Department of Surgery to improve diversity/equity/inclusion in the domains of recruitment, retention, inclusion, and advancement. These individuals actively work to promote, value, and increase diversity in our Department. Diversity is defined as including all aspects of human differences such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, geography, disability and age.
Please submit a nomination statement of up to 500 words and 2 letters of support from other department members. Nominations and letters of support must provide specific examples of actions the individual has taken.
Dr. Miquell Miller Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
The Dr. Miquell Miller Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion was established in 2020 to recognize an outstanding GME trainee who embodies the passion and commitment to expanding diversity and inclusion efforts as demonstrated by Dr. Miquell Miller during her time at Stanford. Dr. Miller was the inspiration and the leader in creating the Stanford GME Diversity Council.
To cement Dr. Miller's legacy, Department of Surgery Chair Dr. Mary Hawn made a gift that will fund an annual award in her name, recommended initially to be $1,000.
The recipient is determined by the Graduate Medical Education Diversity Committee with representation from the Department of Surgery Diversity Council. The first awardee—announced in Spring 2021—was Internal Medicine Resident Dr. Christine Santiago.
Demographics
Female representation - Faculty
Female representation - Residency
Email Signature
We encourage all members of the Stanford Surgery community to update their email signature with their name pronunciation and pronouns.
Active Participations and Societies
Society of Asian Academic Surgeons
Latino Medical Student Association
Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
AMEC (Annual Medical Education Conference)