AO Access—diversity, inclusion and mentorship

At the heart of the AO community

Introducing: AO Access

On June 24, 2020, the AO Foundation Board approved AO Access, establishing the diversity, inclusion, and mentorship initiative firmly within the AO. This further demonstrates the AO’s commitment to addressing existing inequalities to entry and advancement, and to identifying and overcoming barriers.

In this video, Robert McGuire, AO Foundation President and AO Foundation Board representative in the AO Access Steering Committee talks about the importance of AO Access.

Interview with AO Access Steering Committee, Robert McGuire, Amy Kapatkin and Jaime Quintero at the AO Davos Courses 2020.

Interview with AO Access Task Force Matthew Allen, Marinis Peripis and Tatjana Topalovic at the AO Davos Courses 2020.

In this video Matthew Allen demonstrates the transition from the Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) initiative to AO Access.

Our vision

Be a diverse and inclusive organization with equitable access, and opportunity for advancement within the AO organization at all levels, regions, clinical divisions, and units.

Our mission

Implement dedicated programs, policies, and organizational structures that reflect a diverse and inclusive global community of health care professionals including mentoring to make us the most productive, innovative, and sustainable learning community for the benefit of our patients.

AO Access aims to drive these changes through implementation of pro-diversity initiatives that have already been evaluated and shown to be effective in other workplaces; interventions focused on changing people's perceptions of what is normative; and through the creation of a more inclusive and supportive working environment. AO Access comprises task forces recruited through open calls—making it diverse, inclusive and transparent—with representatives from all AO regions and across all the AO's clinical divisions, clinical unit, and institutes, involving surgeons and staff alike. The success of AO Access is tied to engagement and self-nomination, which forms the most important part of this.

We welcome your involvement. The first round for self-nomination through the open call for collaborations has been closed on September 9, 2020.

Second round to get involved is open now

The second round for self-nomination continues to be open for future collaboration. To get started please complete this short survey.

Diversity statement

The AO is an international network of surgeon specializing in the treatment of trauma and musculoskeletal disorders. The AO recognizes that a diverse and inclusive community of surgeons, operating room personnel, health care professionals, and researchers is of paramount importance in its mission of promoting excellence in patient care and outcomes. The AO will focus on recruiting staff, faculty, and leaders that represent the cornerstone of this diverse, global, network. The AO is committed to cultivating diverse leaders who are passionate about advancing its mission and enhancing its position as a world leader in education, research, innovation, and clinical practice.

Educational webinars on diversity, inclusion and mentorship

In a series of interactive webinars targeting particular aspects of diversity and inclusion, mentorship and sponsorship, selected AO experts and invited speakers share their experience and answer your questions.

If you were not able to join live, please sign in with your AO login or register now to watch it on AO videos.

[Title]The Right Mentoring Connection

The Right Mentoring Connection May Change Your Life

Contributors:
Amy Kapatkin, Matthew Allen, Tatjana Topalovic

[Title]Workplace and Organizational Diversity

Growth, Sustainability, and Innovation Through Enhancing Workplace and Organizational Diversity

[Title]Workplace Evidence-based Approaches and Outcomes

Diversity Initiatives in the Workplace Evidence-based Approaches and Outcomes

AO Access Steering Committee and task forces

Meet the diversity, inclusion, and mentorship working group.

News

Resources

Read all articles here
FacultyFocus 3 | 2020
AO Access Steering Committee: final member elected

FacultyFocus 2 | 2020
AO webinar examines what makes diversity initiatives in the workplace successful

FacultyFocus 2 | 2020
AO's commitment to be a diverse, and inclusive organization with equal access, opportunity and progression for all

FacultyFocus 1 | 2020
Current tactics: diversity, inclusion and mentorship

FacultyFocus 1 | 2019
Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative is underway

Committed to opportunity, diversity, and inclusion

Research shows that diverse groups are more creative and effective in problem solving, making an organization more resilient and adaptable; leading to benefits in research and innovation, as well as increased funding opportunities; all the above leading to improved patient health care. Patients want surgeons to look like them, with young graduates being more likely to engage with organizations with people in leadership positions serving as role models that one can associate with. Both aspects are important for future sustainability and success.

The AO is committed to promoting underrepresented groups within the organization, and globally in the field of orthopedics. A proactive, evidence-based approach to understanding participation habits and obstacles experienced by members allows AO to approach diversity and inclusion in a targeted and comprehensive manner.

The AO recognizes that diversity and inclusion are increasingly important issues and is developing projects, programs and policies to increase the diversity of its leaders, faculty, learners and staff. The current makeup of the AO organization does not reflect the gender and ethnic diversity of the wider medical and veterinary orthopedic community, particularly regarding those in early career stages and in residency training programs. In 2018, the AO had a first kick-off meeting after the creation of the Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative (ODII). Based on an identified lack of representation by women and other minority groups in the leadership within and beyond the AO, research was initiated to gather specific data to identify barriers. A large-scale evidence-based survey revealed barriers to faculty entry and advancement for women and other underrepresented groups. Conversations regarding gender disparity and lack of inclusion of other underrepresented groups have taken place in the AO. Identification of this problem is helpful; however, data and data analysis were needed in order to implement effective interventions in the organization.

Find out more in this edition of Faculty Focus. This data is used to instruct programs to promote diversity, inclusion and mentorship programs, trough the new entity AO Access.

Supporting our global community

As a global community of surgeons, with members from six continents and across many fields of orthopedic practice, we are committed to supporting and including all of our colleagues and peers, regardless of race, gender, culture, and religion in our AO activities so as to further our mission for superb patient care and outcomes.

We realize there are multiple global inequities that affects communities, educational institutions, and healthcare systems. In keeping with our mission at the AO, we realize we cannot provide excellence in patient care and outcomes without providing an opportunity for dialogue, education and creation of an entity to address these inequities as well as identify and mentor our future leaders.

The AO is proud to have unveiled its own Opportunity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative this past year and will now include Mentorship as a new entity. The new entity called AO Access will be dedicated to cultivating a diverse member and leadership organization, to ongoing self-reflection, and to promote those values throughout the AO community.

We look forward to providing opportunities with a series of webinars and volunteer working groups, where people dedicated to pursuing these same goals can come together and strengthen our organization. We encourage peaceful and productive progress that will help uphold the values of understanding, tolerance, and acceptance which in the end, will improve the care we provide for our patients.

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