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Diversity Advisory Board

Fostering diversity is one of the Academy's nine strategic goals designed to advance its mission of serving the profession, championing the interests of patients, and advancing the highest quality musculoskeletal health. To achieve this goal, the AAOS will work to:

  • understand and respond to the diversity of the patient population,
  • promote the delivery of culturally competent care, and
  • support efforts to diversify the profession and the orthopaedic work force

To deliver on these promises, the AAOS Diversity Advisory Board has been established to integrate the values of diversity throughout the Academy's activities, initiatives, and membership.

Mission: To educate our fellows on the impact of diversity and culturally competent care in their practice and society (and to promote the growth of diversity among orthopaedic surgeons).

Vision: Achieve excellence in musculoskeletal healthcare delivery through culturally competent care and a diverse orthopaedic profession.

New list for Meet the DAB Members:

Accomplishments

2007

  • Published the Culturally Competent Care Guidebook (with Tip Sheets) and distributed nearly 1,400 at the 2007 AAOS Annual Meeting; distribution of the Guidebook through mid-2007 exceeds 2,500; distribution of the CD to date exceeds 8,600
  • The Diversity Advisory Board began formulating plans for a Native American Outreach Program
  • 2007 AAOS president, James Beaty, MD, wrote a letter strongly supporting the incorporation of Diversity Advisory Board input into all Academy business plans and proposals to further permeate the values of diversity throughout all Academy activities
  • Developed and released six audio segments for the “Life, Love, and Health” radio program; segments will play in Wal-mart locations across the U.S. and on satellite radio.
  • Implementing a media tour to promote the importance and benefits of Cultural Competent Care for physicians and patients in five key legislative states and Washington D.C. (nationally)
  • Launched the Residency Program Tour that will take Cultural Competency education “on the road” to residents in a grand rounds format.
  • Recruited 30 medical students for the AAOS mentoring program at the 2007 SNMA conference in San Francisco
  • Alvin Crawford, MD, received fifth annual Diversity Award at 2007 AAOS Annual Meeting in San Diego

2006

  • Augustus White III, MD, PhD, received fourth annual Diversity Award at 2006 AAOS Annual Meeting in Chicago
  • Presented diversity symposium entitled “What you need to know to effectively communicate with your culturally diverse patients” at the AAOS Annual Meeting
  • Committee renamed Diversity Advisory Board (4/06); charges expanded, current size retained
  • Continued medical student recruitment at the 2006 SNMA conference in Atlanta; will expand recruitment efforts at the 10/06 Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) conference in Tampa
  • Expanded medical school textbook Musculoskeletal Medicine distribution program to two medical schools in 2006: Howard and Morehouse

2005

  • Laura Tosi, MD, accepted third annual Diversity Award at 2005 AAOS Annual Meeting in Washington D.C
  • Launched the Cultural Competency Challenge CD program at AAOS Annual Meeting; program features 18 interactive case studies; distributed ~1,150 CDs to orthopaedists, educators, and residents
  • Coordinated exhibit booth in Academy Row at the AAOS Annual Meeting to promote diversity initiatives, and distribute the Cultural Competency Challenge CD
  • Converted the “Follow your Path” recruitment video to DVD format to aid in distribution; sent out 400 copies by year end
  • Exhibited and hosted an outreach event for 175 medical students at the 2005 SNMA conference in St. Louis and the 2005 NHMA conference in Washington D.C.; recruited 60 applicants for the mentoring program
  • Presented diversity symposium at the AAOS Annual Meeting entitled “Cultural competency: enhancing your communication skills”; posted the symposium (with Power Point presentations and voiceover) on Orthopaedic Knowledge Online
  • Diversity website received 25,000 visits, resulting in 100,000+ page views in 2005
  • Completed fourth biennial census of orthopaedic residents taking the 2005 OITE exam (see Appendix for data)

2004

  • Henry Mankin, MD, accepted second annual Diversity Award at the 2004 AAOS Annual Meeting in San Francisco
  • Debuted the Cultural Competency Challenge interactive kiosk at the 2004 AAOS Annual Meeting; received funding to develop an electronic product that expands on the kiosk model
  • Exhibited and hosted an outreach event for ~130 medical students at the 2004 SNMA Conference in New Orleans; provided “sawbones” demonstrations to expose students to hands-on orthopaedic tools and techniques
  • Expanded the mentoring program to ~400 participants by year end
  • Continued expansion of the diversity website; distribution of “Follow your Path” video

2003

  • Wayne Southwick, MD, receives inaugural Diversity Award at the 2003 AAOS Annual Meeting in New Orleans
  • Exhibited and sponsored outreach event at the 2003 SNMA conference in Washington D.C.; recruited 70 medical students for mentoring program
  • Expanded mentoring program from ~200 participants to ~300 by year end
  • Ramon Jimenez, MD, becomes Committee chairman; 2 new member-at-large positions added to Committee
  • Created “Follow your Path” medical student recruitment video and distributed the program via grassroots campaign to residency programs and orthopaedic faculty
  • Presented symposium entitled “Do you speak the other guy’s language?” at the 2003 AAOS Annual Meeting
  • Launched diversity website including information for medical students, program directors, residents, and orthopaedic surgeons: www.aaos.org/diversity
  • Received funding for a pilot project to teach culturally competent care to orthopaedic surgeons
  • Established medical student textbook Musculoskeletal Medicine distribution program with Howard University (Project 100)
  • Completed third biennial census of orthopaedic residents taking the 2003 OITE exam (see Appendix for data)

2002

  • Vernon Tolo, MD, elected 2002/03 Academy president; champions diversity initiatives throughout his presidency
  • Diversity Award program approved by AAOS Board of Directors (5/02)
  • Developed diversity-related questions for OITE and OSAE examinations; also submitted questions to ABOS
  • Presented symposium entitled “Diversity and cultural competence in orthopaedic practice” at the 2002 AAOS Annual Meeting in Dallas
  • Held diversity focus groups with participants from RJOS, JRGOS, and SNMA at the 2002 AAOS Annual Meeting
  • Exhibited and outreach event for minority medical students at the 2002 Student National Medical Association (SNMA) conference in Houston, TX; recruited 45 medical students

2001

  • Developed new materials for medical students and mentors in AAOS mentoring program; program expanded from 70 to 120 participants
  • Presented diversity symposium and Hispanic workshop at the 2001 AAOS Annual Meeting in San Francisco
  • Hosted Diversity Workshop at the 12/01 AAOS Board of Directors meeting in Chicago
  • Sought and received additional funding for new committee initiatives (2/01)
  • Completed second biennial census of orthopaedic residents taking the 2001 OITE exam (see Appendix for data)

2000

  • Held first diversity symposium at 2000 AAOS Annual Meeting in Orlando
  • Added 30 new mentors from the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society (JRGOS); expanded participation in the mentoring program by advertising in the New Physician magazine
  • Convened panel of residency program directors to explore barriers to the inclusion of minorities in orthopaedic residency programs (8/00)

1999

  • AAOS joined Consortium of Healthcare Professions for Diversity
  • Launched AAOS mentoring program for minority medical students and collaborated with Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) mentoring program for women
  • Created brochures for women and minority medical students
  • Sponsored “Diversity Highlights” booth at the 1999 AAOS Annual Meeting in Anaheim
  • Conducted first biennial census of orthopaedic residents taking the 1999 OITE exam (see Appendix for data)

1998

  • Supported the 1998 Academic Orthopaedic Society (AOS) symposium entitled “Minorities in Orthopaedics”; assisted in the dissemination of lectures from the symposium

1997

  • The AAOS Diversity Committee was officially created in January with six members and a chairman: Augustus White III, MD, PhD

1996

  • The AAOS, with the support of past president, Douglas Jackson, MD, established a Subcommittee on Minority Issues and Musculoskeletal Education. The subcommittee held its first meeting at Chicago O’Hare
  • Original members of the subcommittee included E. Anthony Rankin, MD, Ramon Jimenez, MD, Michael Schafer, MD (representing the RRC), Augustus White, MD, PhD (representing the AOS), Clarence Shields, MD (representing AOA), and Victoria Stevens, MD.
  • The subcommittee’s goal was to help eliminate barriers to minorities entering or working in orthopaedics, determine their views, and report recommendations to the Steering Committee on Musculoskeletal Education Review.

1994 – 1995

  • The Orthopaedic Section of the National Medical Association (NMA) established an ad hoc committee to support diversity in the orthopaedic profession
  • Consequently, an ad hoc committee of concerned African-American AAOS members began to meet and explore ways to improve diversity in orthopaedics
  • Raymond Pierce Jr., was named official AAOS representative to the NMA; Richard Grant, MD, was appointed to the ABOS; and E. Anthony Rankin, MD, and Alvin Crawford, MD were elected to the AAOS Board of Directors

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