The University of Iowa Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation acknowledges the issues related to racial discrimination that have come to the surface due to recent circumstances in our country.  These issues have made it clear that systemic discrimination and overt racism are present in our country.  We are more committed than ever to combat discrimination and unconscious bias in our workplace, more broadly in healthcare and to support the national fight to eliminate racial inequities and discrimination.

    
As orthopedic health care providers our calling is to restore form and function to our patients regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.  To best accomplish this, we must promote culturally competent care through ongoing efforts to achieve diversity and eliminate bias.

Our department has a history of promoting diversity and has been a leader in gender diversity in orthopedic surgery.  We have a diversity committee charged with educating the department and addressing issues related to diversity.  Actions of the committee have included, supporting recruitment of underrepresented minorities for faculty and resident positions, cultural-sensitivity training, unconscious bias awareness, and other educational and research programs.  This committee’s work is now more important than ever. The department sponsors and participates in a number of outreach programs aimed at introducing under-represented minorities of all ages to the field of Orthopedic Surgery.  This support must continue and increase since these efforts contribute to a more diverse future workforce for our profession. 

We recognize that these initiatives are only a start.  We have additional work to do to make our specialty more diverse and promote a welcoming environment for all individuals both in our department and within orthopedic surgery.  We stand together with our colleagues, our students, and our patients to more broadly understand and fight discrimination in all areas of our society.