Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
Welcome to the SCTS INSINC Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) page. At the core of our mission is a steadfast commitment to equalising opportunities within the field of cardiothoracic surgery. Inspired by the work of our previous Co-leads, Professor Farah Bhatti and Miss Karen Booth, and our current Lead, Mr Jason Ali, we believe that no individual should be hindered in their professional journey due to factors unrelated to their abilities and potential. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of socio-economic background or immutable characteristics, has an equal chance to pursue and excel in this specialty.
Why is this so crucial? By levelling the playing field, we believe that this will enable the pursuit of interests for those who have great potential but would otherwise be denied the opportunity. This not only nurtures the talents of future leaders in cardiothoracic surgery but also drives the specialty forward, ultimately enhancing patient care and outcomes.
To identify where our efforts are most needed, we began with a survey developed by our first EDI lead, Alexander Reynalds. This survey was designed to uncover the obstacles faced by UK medical students aspiring to enter cardiothoracic surgery. After two years of gathering data, the results have highlighted key areas where intervention is essential. The predominant barriers identified were socio-economic challenges, gender-related issues, and negative experiences within the theatre environment.
With these insights, our current EDI lead, Joshua Halyckyj-Smith, is developing targeted programmes aimed at addressing these challenges. We encourage you to stay tuned to this page for updates on these initiatives, which are designed to create a more equitable and inclusive path into cardiothoracic surgery for all UK medical students. Together, we can foster a bright and capable future for the specialty.