ASGE values and recognizes the importance of embracing diversity and its impact on strengthening our members’ ability to provide excellent care to all patient populations. The society is committed to enhancing diversity by educating and training culturally competent gastroenterologists, as well as providing leadership opportunities to all members regardless of gender, age, religion, racial or ethnic group, sexual orientation or disability.
Because the Governing Board believes strongly in diversity, the society has created the following initiatives to support its values.
ASGE Member and Diversity Committee
The ASGE Member and Diversity Committee (MEDC) assesses member needs, reviews applications and develops strategies to recruit new members and retain current ones. The committee also assists the ASGE Governing Board and society committees in incorporating diversity and membership development activities in its structure and function. In addition, the MEDC represents the society in interactions with other national organizations that are addressing the needs of women and minorities in gastroenterology.
ASGE Guideline from the Standards of Practice Committee
“Race and ethnicity considerations in GI endoscopy”
Amy Wang, MD, FASGE, Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FASGE and Ruben D. Acosta, MD, et al.
GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Vol. 82, No. 4, 2015
Special Article from the ASGE Member and Diversity Committee
“Diversity in gastroenterology in the United States: Where are we now? Where should we go?”
Lukejohn W. Day, MD, Susan Gonzalez, MD and Antonio Mendoza Ladd, MD, et al.
GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Vol. 83, No. 4, 2016
ASGE Diversity Award
ASGE is committed to supporting research focused on gender and individuals with ethnically diverse backgrounds. To that end, every year two individuals each receive a $1000 award based on accepted abstracts submitted to DDW that focused on gender and ethnicity. In addition, the recipients are recognized during the Crystal Awards dinner, ceremony, and program book.
Gastroenterology Women’s Coalition (GWC)
Established in 1992, the GWC is composed of members of ASGE, American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Its mission is to “promote collaboration and interaction among the women members of the societies; to promote awareness, understanding, and research on gender differences in GI diseases, to support recruitment of women physicians to the specialty of GI and to support mentorship for trainees in GI fellowship.”
The GWC conducts an annual 90-minute symposium at Digestive Disease Week®, with one of the societies taking the lead in planning the event, supported by the other societies. Past themes included: “Move Beyond Survival Mode: Cultivating a Rewarding Career in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “The Science of Confidence” and “Becoming a Successful Gastroenterologist with Confidence, Balance and Professionalism.”
Diversity Session at Digestive Disease Week®
Conducted annually at DDW, members of ASGE, AASLD, AGA, and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract plan a program to broaden the perspective of current and future GI leaders about the necessity and value of inclusion to the profession and practice of gastroenterology. Sessions include discussions on unconscious bias and its impact on career development and patient care.