World events have pushed issues of racial and ethnic inequality into the spotlight. As a result, organizations and institutions are now prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). To foster DEI in gastroenterology and hepatology (GI), robust, actionable steps are required.
The outcome of successful DEI work is excellence; improved patient outcomes, particularly where health disparities exist and are persistent; advancement of the GI field; and a workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of the United States.
However, the concepts of diversity, health equity, workforce equity, and inclusion are often conflated and misconstrued. It is critical that we as a profession define the terms diversity, equity, and inclusion explicitly.
Although deeply intertwined, these concepts are strategically discrete, and an understanding of these differences will allow medical institutions and societies to more effectively implement policies supporting these important goals. Read More >>