Plastic Surgery Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mentorship Program and Workshop: A Single Institution's Experience

Several minority groups and students without home plastic surgery programs remain underrepresented in plastic surgery. To address these barriers, our division created the Plastic Surgery Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mentorship Program and Workshop. Students meeting at least one of the following eligibility criteria were invited in fall of 2020: medical student in years 1 though 3 or a research year who is (1) underrepresented in medicine, including African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, Pacific Islander; (2) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ); (3) first-generation low-income; or (4) does not have a plastic surgery residency program associated with their medical school. Students participated in quarterly meetings with their resident mentor and the annual hands-on workshop. The workshop was held on March 20, 2020, with both virtual and in-person participants. It included various didactic lectures, a suture laboratory, a resident panel, a social lunch hour, and extremity and head cadaver dissections with fracture plating. Twenty-four students attended the workshop. The course was rated 9.4 of 10 by students. The top met goals were gaining didactic plastic surgery knowledge (100%), exposure to a plastic surgery residency program (100%), resources to help overcome minority-specific barriers (96%), and technical skills such as suturing (96%). At the conclusion of the workshop, students had a significant increase in confidence in various aspects of plastic surgery knowledge and technical skills. The Plastic Surgery Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mentorship Program and Workshop demonstrated preliminary success in providing support for students underrepresented in medicine and students without home programs.

Automated summary

To address underrepresentation in plastic surgery among certain minority groups and students without home plastic surgery programs, a Plastic Surgery Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mentorship Program and Workshop was created. Students meeting specific eligibility criteria were invited to participate and attend quarterly meetings with a resident mentor. The workshop included lectures, a suture laboratory, a resident panel, and cadaver dissections, among other activities. Students rated the course highly and reported increased confidence in plastic surgery knowledge and technical skills. The program demonstrates success in supporting underrepresented students in medicine and those without home programs.