ASCRS News: 2022 ASCRS Annual Meeting recap
June 2022

by Liz Hillman
Editorial Co-Director

Diversity, equity, and inclusion were a topic at the ASCRS Annual Meeting for the second year as a group met to share their experiences, insights, and hear keynote speaker Artika Tyner, JD, EdD. This ASCRS Satellite CME Program was titled “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: When Identifying the Problem Is Not Enough, Leadership Must Take Action.”

Ann Caroline Fisher, MD, who co-moderated the session with Leon Herndon Jr., MD, said that they realized in conceptualizing the session that everyone travels a different journey, and everyone must understand what it means to them. Dr. Fisher gave an overview of data on the current status of diversity in ophthalmology (one of the least diverse medical specialties), the gender compensation gap, and biases against patients that are affecting care. 

“We’re collecting all this data,” Dr. Fisher said. “So what do we do with all the data we collect? … We take action, and I think that’s why we titled our session ‘Leadership Must Take Action.’”

Dr. Fisher said that while these topics can be emotionally charged and difficult, we have to have these discussions. Dr. Fisher introduced Dr. Tyner as being at the forefront of advancing social education, justice, and equity.

Dr. Tyner said she hoped that from her talk, attendees could gain inspiration, not just from hearing numbers, but on what we can do to create change in real time. This starts with redefining leadership. A leader, Dr. Tyner said, is a planter of ideas, seeds of change, and a vision for justice. 

“My invitation is how do we build on this vision. What are the seeds we can plant today … to reap the harvest of prosperity, health, and well-being,” she said. 

Dr. Tyner said that inclusion is treating others not just how you want to be treated but how they want to be treated. She also discussed multicultural competency. It’s important to assess the strengths and capabilities of each individual to help understand where others are most effective. 

Dr. Tyner discussed implicit bias and unconscious bias, saying that we all have the latter. It’s important to put a mirror up to ourselves. One way to do this is to take the Implicit Association Test, which can help identify areas for growth. 

Microaggressions, which can be verbal and nonverbal, are an impediment to building a strong team, Dr. Tyner said. It’s important to pause, reflect, and grow, thinking about microaggressions you might have seen—or caused—and how they could have impacted your colleagues’ performance or the quality of a patient’s experience. 

“What can you start doing to implement prevention and intervention measures in addressing microaggressions in the workplace and patient services?” Dr. Tyner asked. 

Dr. Tyner challenged attendees to pledge to check their bias, speak up for others, and to show up for all. 

“Do my actions and words reflect the values of inclusion?” Dr. Tyner said it’s important to ask, then make a commitment to “move outside of my comfort zone to learn more about the experiences of others, and I’ll share my insights based on what I’ve learned.” 

After Dr. Tyner’s keynote, the panel, which included Richard Lindstrom, MD, Cathi Lyons, MHA, COE, Jeff Pettey, MD, Douglas Rhee, MD, and Fasika Woreta, MD, discussed their personal experiences that shaped their beliefs and values. They commented on what steps they thought could improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in residency programs and what steps should be taken in the future. 

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About the doctors

Ann Caroline Fisher, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Artika Tyner, JD, EdD
Director and Clinical Professor
Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice
University of St. Thomas School of Law
St. Paul, Minnesota

Relevant disclosures

Fisher: None
Tyner: None

Contact 

Fisher: acm@stanford.edu
Tyner: dr.artikatyner@gmail.com