Letter from the Editor: Otolaryngology Must Address Diversity, Gender Bias

Cultural conditioning shapes who we think we are at any given point in our lives. Few are those who ever challenge or outgrow the beliefs that have been instilled by family and society during those early years.—Mooji

I have always advised students to avoid the doctors’ lounge, especially those filled with pessimistic physicians who talk about how medicine is not what it used to be or reminisce about how the good old days were so much better. Unfortunately, this attitude is non-productive, is highly contagious, and reinforces old biases and behaviors. I worry about becoming one of those physicians. If I resist change in medicine, is it really different this time or am I just getting old?

While I was fortunate to be involved in our specialty’s leadership at a young age, it was obvious at the time that our leaders did not reflect the reality of my medical school experience in Ann Arbor or residency training in Houston.

In March 2007, at the AAO–HNS annual advocacy conference in Washington, D.C., during Richard Miyamoto’s presidency, I attended a meeting of multiple otolaryngology organization presidents. Everyone was discussing issues within the specialty, most of which were focused on clinical topics, specialty politics, or reimbursement problems. Duane Taylor and Lisa Perry-Gilkes, representing the National Medical Association’s otolaryngology section and the Harry Barnes Society, raised concerns about diversity, health literacy, and cultural competency in our specialty. In the room, these topics seemed out of place and were not further discussed. Yet, their comments clearly resonated with the Academy leadership and quickly led to the development of the Academy’s first diversity policy and the creation of the inaugural Diversity Committee. Around the same time, Sonya Malekzadeh and others led the creation of the Section for Women in Otolaryngology. Both groups were immediately given representation in the Academy’s Board of Directors.

When we attempt to avoid change and cling to the ‘way things were,’ we stop moving forward and growing, and we become part of the problem.

These impactful efforts, reflecting the leadership of many people over the years, opened a new era in an important ongoing conversation within our specialty. Unfortunately, the people who would benefit the most from receiving this information are the most likely to ignore relevant communications or close their minds to the benefits of different perspectives, equity, or new ways of doing things. People who are committed to change and moving forward bear the responsibility to learn, teach, and reach out to help others. Together, we need to develop better ways to frame the benefits to bring along those who are not ready. This is how change works, and there is still a lot of work to do.

Life and medicine are continuously changing at a seemingly accelerating pace. When we attempt to avoid change and cling to the ‘way things were,’ we stop moving forward and growing, and we become part of the problem. We need to open our minds, try to understand
perspectives that are unfamiliar or uncomfortable, and embrace change. Change will never end. We will never get “there.” We are fortunate to have many exceptionally talented and inspiring colleagues who can help us along this journey. They encourage us to improve and help us provide more effective care to our patients.

This issue of ENTtoday highlights ongoing critical issues related to diversity/inclusion, gender bias, and health literacy within otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. The articles include interviews with many leaders in our field who are actively addressing these issues. Erin O’Brien’s viewpoint on the gender gap in otolaryngology provides a timely update. She makes the point, which can be generalized to many problems facing the specialty, that leaders need to participate in order to address these issues, and affected groups cannot be expected to achieve parity without the support and effort of those with the power to make changes. Duane Taylor, now the current president-elect of the AAO–HNS, discusses the importance of the well-informed patient and the Academy’s new tools to help physicians and patients.

As a specialty, let’s not get stuck in the doctor’s lounge; as leaders in medicine, we should stay open minded, be active and honest participants in these conversations, embrace change, and drive our specialty forward to its ultimate potential.

Ronald B. Kuppersmith, MD, MBA
Deputy Editor, ENTtoday