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- Talk
- Canada
Diversity in Medicine and Orthopaedics - Fix Systems and Structures Not People
Description
In this presentation, Gigi Osler addresses the crucial topic of diversity, emphasizing its importance in medicine and organizations. Speaking from Winnipeg, she acknowledges the land's original Indigenous peoples and shares her commitment to promoting diversity, particularly in the context of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). Osler outlines the concept of diversity as encompassing differences in ethnicity, gender, age, and socioeconomic status, while introducing intersectionality to explain how these identities interact to produce unique experiences and challenges.
She highlights the necessity of understanding the difference between gender, a social construct, and sex, a biological characteristic. Osler argues that true diversity encompasses cognitive diversity and the variety of thought processes, which leads to better problem-solving and innovative thinking in organizations. She presents data showing the lack of representation of women and Indigenous peoples in leadership roles within medicine, referring to this issue as a "leaky pipeline" for women aiming for higher positions.
Osler shares data on gender and ethnicity representation, stressing that diverse organizations are more likely to succeed and adapt effectively to changing demographics among medical professionals. She urges the audience to consider systemic changes rather than individual fixes to enhance diversity in their institutions and calls on leaders to recognize their power and responsibility in shaping inclusive environments.
Concluding her presentation, Osler emphasizes that the future of medicine—and indeed patient care—relies on diversifying leadership and attracting a broad range of talent, thereby ensuring better health outcomes for all patients. She expresses gratitude for the opportunity to speak and hopes to inspire actionable change toward inclusivity in the medical field.