Bethesda, MD (Oct. 11, 2022) - The Intersociety Group on Diversity (IGD) partnered with researchers at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) released results of the first study of its kind to explore perspectives on workforce diversity and health equity among practicing GI and hepatology professionals.
The report - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in GI and Hepatology: A Survey of Where We Stand - was published jointly today in Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, HEPATOLOGY, and The American Journal of Gastroenterology. An executive summary is also available in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.
Key findings:
- Many are complacent with current levels of diversity. Despite the well-recognized under-representation of certain racial and ethnic groups in GI/hepatology, a small proportion of survey participants (one-third or fewer) felt that racial/ethnic representation was insufficient in the educational/training pipeline, among practicing professionals, or in GI/hepatology leadership. There was a clear discrepancy in satisfaction with workplace diversity among GI and hepatology physicians by race and ethnicity:
- 63% of Black physicians were very or somewhat unsatisfied with workplace diversity, whereas 78% of White physicians were very or somewhat satisfied.
- Interventions are needed. Among those who recommended interventions to enhance racial and gender diversity in the profession, the most common suggestions were to increase:
- Mentorship opportunities for resident and medical students who are women or from racial and ethnic populations underrepresented in medicine (UIM) relative to their numbers in the general population. These groups have traditionally included Latino (i.e., Latino/a/x), Black/African American, and Native American individuals (namely, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians), Pacific Islanders, and mainland Puerto Ricans.
- Representation of UIM GI/hepatology professionals in academic and professional society leadership.
"This study helps to establish priorities for diversity, equity and inclusion in our field and informs future interventions to improve workforce diversity and eliminate health care disparities among the patients we serve," said Folasade P. May, MD, PhD, MPhil, survey corresponding author.
More than 1,200 individuals participated in this nationwide, cross-sectional, 33-question survey. The survey was developed by University of California, Los Angeles investigators Harman Rahal, MD; James H. Tabibian, MD, PhD; Folasade P. May, MD, PhD, MPhil; and Liu Yang, PhD. The IGD, co-chaired at the time by Darrell M. Gray, II, MD, MPH, and Rachel Issaka, MD, MAS, provided input and facilitated survey distribution.
Read the special report: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in GI and Hepatology: A Survey of Where We Stand.
Formed in 2020, the Intersociety Group on Diversity (IGD) works collaboratively across the five gastroenterology professional societies to guide, support and advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the GI field. The coalition includes the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. The IGD aims to increase diversity in gastroenterology among our societies' members, our pipeline of trainees, and leadership; and eradicate health disparities in the patients and populations our members serve. Leadership of the IGD rotates among the GI societies and the current IGD chair is Sandra Quezada, MD (AGA).
