Editor’s Note: An uplifting example followed by a reminder of harsh reality.
During my career, I have aspired to change the face of orthopaedics and to defy stereotypes. My method was to offer opportunity to underrepresented minorities who had the aptitude to succeed.
What does this mean? It has nothing to do with the words “diversity”, “affirmative action” and “equity.” I have offered opportunities to people who could, in my opinion, make the grade. I began by assisting in the faculty review of residency applications for the program where I taught. When a person of color appeared to have the aptitude to succeed, we offered them an interview. The pride of my orthopaedic life was when the composition of a residency class was reflective of the patient population they served. Recently, a residency class in two different programs had no white males included among the members.
On one of my own emergency room visits as a patient, I was cared for by an attending physician who introduced herself. She said that I required no introduction. Although I had never met this doctor before, she knew me by reputation even though I had not been on the faculty there for six years. “You’re the reason why people like me have the opportunity to be here today.” She said she remembered me as someone who broke down barriers. It was apparent that I had not been forgotten.
What do I tell minority residents when they are about to start their post-residency careers? By then, “they know what they are up against.” Attitudes in this country change very slowly if at all.
Here is an example. Just prior to the COVID pandemic, I was asked to travel to speak with a young female minority orthopaedic resident. She had been called a “n- – – er” by a white male resident in her program. She had been socialized by parents who themselves grew up in West Africa where bias of this type was not often encountered. She was not equipped to respond without shock and emotion to this dreadful assault. No one had taught her how to handle a situation of this sort. Sadly, she is the one who ended up in psychotherapy rather than the perpetrator. I continue to mentor her and remain committed to her professional development.