Diversity in orthopaedics and traumatology: a global perspective

Abstract

Europe represents true diversity, with cultural, linguistic and geopolitical variation spanning a large geographical area. Politics for many of its 750 million inhabitants revolves around the European Union (EU) and its 27 member states. The overarching goal of the EU is to promote peace and the values of the union (inclusion, tolerance, justice, solidarity and non-discrimination).^1,2EFORT was created to connect orthopaedic associations across Europe, fostering relationships between member countries that celebrated diversity and facilitated the exchange of knowledge. Whilst the global landscape changes and politics attempts to interfere in how we live our lives, it is important to remember that a strong organization is a diverse one that evolves over time.Various initiatives exist across the global landscape to support diversity in terms of culture; gender; black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups; disability groups; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (or questioning) and others (LGBTQ+); and the 'ageing' surgeon. This article explores the creation of some of these initiatives and how they have been supported by different orthopaedic organizations. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2020;5:743-752. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.200022.

Keywords: diversity; surgery; trauma and orthopaedics.

Table 1.

EFORT gender diversity survey Note. In December 2019, EFORT performed a survey of all national and specialty societies asking for the total number and total number of female orthopaedic surgeons within their membership in 2019. *Certain overlaps exist. **Number of women not recorded but society advised approx. 20% female members. ***Not all members answered gender question. ****19% of surgeons under the age of 40 are female. *****Multi-speciality society. ******Paediatric orthopaedics and traumatology not included since it is a separate society. DGOU, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Unfallchirugie; DGOUC, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie E.V.; BVOUe.V, Berufsverband für Orthopädie und Unfallchirugie; DGU, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirugie; EBJIS, European Bone and Joint Infection Society; EHS, European Hip Society.

Table 2.

Female orthopaedic surgeon diversity on a global scale Note. Reproduced/Adapted with permission from The British Orthopaedic Association. Green JA, Chye VPC, Hiemstra LA, et al. Gender diversity in orthopaedic surgery: A perspective from the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance. Journal of Trauma and Orthopaedics. 2020;8(1):44-51. *Data collected from each nation’s orthopaedic association. Asia-Pacific data courtesy of PC Chye.