Sunday afternoon’s DDW^® Clinical Symposium Ensuring Diversity in Gastroenterology: Practical Approaches for GI Societies, Institutions and Practices will highlight diversity issues among gastroenterologists, hepatologists and surgeons as they relate to academia and various clinical practice settings.

Jointly sponsored by the four sponsoring societies and hosted by AGA, the symposium will be followed by an open reception.

“The annual DDW Diversity Session and Reception brings to light disparities in health care,” said DDW Council Chair Grace H. Elta, MD, AGAF, FASGE, professor of medicine and clinical director of the Medical Procedures Unit at the University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor. “This is an important reminder for our professional societies and attendees of these important and not-easy-to-remedy issues.”

AGA Diversity Committee Chair Rotonya Carr, MD, said the session offers practical strategies that organizations, institutions and practices can use to achieve and sustain diversity.

“Diverse organizations ensure a broad range of perspectives and skills that stem from the experiences of individuals that make up organizations,” said Dr. Carr, assistant professor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. “This leads to novel approaches to solve the very problems with which we grapple as gastroenterologists. Moreover, ensuring diversity improves our ability to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse patient populations.”

AASLD, AGA, ASGE and SSAT chairs selected the session’s lecture topics:

• “Has the GI Pipeline Sprung a Leak? An Update on Trends in GI URM Trainee and Faculty Recruitment and Retention”
• “Best Practices in Repairing the Pipeline: GI Societies Approaches”
• “Bringing Cultural Competency Curricula into Your GI Societies and Institution”

The talks will be followed by a panel session, where attendees and presenters can share ideas that promote diversity in GI.

The reception following the session provides a valuable networking opportunity to celebrate diversity and to promote relationship building among minorities and other groups of diverse backgrounds in GI, Dr. Carr said.

Please refer to the DDW Mobile App or the Program section in Sunday’s issue for the time and location of this and other DDW events.