Description
In this enlightening presentation, Mohit Bhandari, the president of the Canadian Orthopedic Association, discusses the organization's efforts towards fostering a more diverse and inclusive environment. He defines diversity and inclusion not only in terms of gender and ethnicity but also by various identities, including age, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Bhandari emphasizes the significance of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies, describing them as essential for improving governance and addressing long-standing challenges within the orthopedic community.
He shares insights from recent data audits illustrating the current state of female representation in orthopedic surgery in Canada, where only 11.2% of orthopedic surgeons are women. Furthermore, he highlights significant regional variations and urges the organization to learn from provinces with better representation. With current residency programs seeing roughly one in four orthopedic trainees as women, Bhandari points out the importance of mentoring and engaging medical students from diverse backgrounds to ensure a more inclusive future.
The presentation outlines six strategic steps the COA plans to implement to advocate for diversity within orthopedic surgery. Bhandari stresses the necessity of creating equitable institutions that actively dismantle barriers faced by underrepresented groups.
Bhandari concludes with a compelling call to action for both men and women in the field to participate in this movement towards equity. He emphasizes that the journey will involve both challenges and opportunities, and calls for a collaborative effort to transform the landscape of orthopedic surgery in Canada.