Diversity and Inclusion in Our Department

The Department of Surgery values diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive environment for both our medical staff and patients. We believe that our department is enriched by the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds of each of our members, and that embracing these differences is essential to providing the best care to our patients and their families. We strive to create an environment that fosters learning, creativity and collaboration.

What Diversity Means to Us

We believe that we can best promote excellence by creating a climate of diversity, inclusion and respect. This is critical to reaching our goals in research, teaching, health care and other areas within our department and Johns Hopkins as a whole.

Shared Values

We recognize and support the values of diversity and inclusion in achieving and sustaining excellence in academics, research and patient care.

Diverse Teams and Views

We create and foster inclusion by recruiting and retaining diverse groups of students, residents, faculty and staff.

Diversity Is a Shared Responsibility

We acknowledge that the responsibility for excellence, diversity and inclusion lies with all of us in the department.

How We Practice Diversity and Inclusion

Community and International Outreach

Our department is engaged with Baltimore communities to expose young students to surgery as a profession. We also participate in international humanitarian work via our Global Surgery Initiative.

Health Disparities Research

Racial disparities have been shown to influence whether people receive timely care, the type of care they get and procedure outcomes. We investigate these topics to shed light on racial disparities in surgery.

Ongoing Education

We aim to keep the topics of diversity and inclusion top of mind by including them in our grand rounds and other department-wide events and lectures. Training on implicit bias is incorporated into regular education modules for all staff.

Community Outreach

Students from the MERIT Health Leadership Academy and the Latino Medical Student Association learn surgical skills at Johns Hopkins.

Students Learn Surgical Skills
Students from the MERIT Health Leadership Academy and the Latino Medical Student Association learn surgical skills at Johns Hopkins.
Students Learn Surgical Skills
Students from the MERIT Health Leadership Academy and the Latino Medical Student Association learn surgical skills at Johns Hopkins.
Students Learn Surgical Skills
Students from the MERIT Health Leadership Academy and the Latino Medical Student Association learn surgical skills at Johns Hopkins.
Students Learn Surgical Skills
Students from the MERIT Health Leadership Academy and the Latino Medical Student Association learn surgical skills at Johns Hopkins.
Students Learn Surgical Skills
Students from the MERIT Health Leadership Academy and the Latino Medical Student Association learn surgical skills at Johns Hopkins.
Students Learn Surgical Skills
Students from the MERIT Health Leadership Academy and the Latino Medical Student Association learn surgical skills at Johns Hopkins.
Students Learn Surgical Skills
Students from the MERIT Health Leadership Academy and the Latino Medical Student Association learn surgical skills at Johns Hopkins.
Students Learn Surgical Skills
Students from the MERIT Health Leadership Academy and the Latino Medical Student Association learn surgical skills at Johns Hopkins.

Faculty, Residents and Alumni in National Diversity Leadership

National Societies

Society of Black Academic Surgeons

The society aims to improve health, advance science and foster careers of African American and other underrepresented minority surgeons.

Members from Johns Hopkins:

Fabian Johnston, M.D., M.H.S.
Malcolm Brock, M.D.
Lawrence Brown, M.D.
Midori White, M.D.

Latino Surgical Society

This society aims to nurture and support the advancement of Latinx surgeons throughout the United States, and to motivate, mentor and inspire the under-represented in medicine, medical students and residents who wish to pursue careers in surgery.

Members from Johns Hopkins:

Alejandro V. Garcia, M.D.

Society of Asian Academic Surgeons

This society focuses on the personal and professional development of Asian academic surgeons with the belief that the best way to increase Asian representation in the leadership of academic surgery is to prepare future generations to succeed.

Members from Johns Hopkins:

Association of Out Surgeons and Allies

This is an organization of LGBTQ+ surgeons and allies that promotes acceptance, inclusion and equity in surgical specialties to further engagement, support individual clinicians and researchers, and build a community. The AOSA works to create a space for LGBTQ+ surgeons and trainees that promotes a dignified and successful career without stigma, judgment or discrimination.

Medical Student Societies

Student National Medical Association

This association supports current and future underrepresented minority medical students by addressing the needs of underserved communities and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.

Latino Medical Student Association

This association exists to unite and empower current and future physicians through service, mentorship, and education to advocate for the improved health of the Hispanic and Latina/o/x community in the United States.

Local Societies

Women in Surgery at Hopkins

Established in 2016, WISH holds regular dinners where female surgeons socialize and compare notes. They discuss challenges, such as patients who refuse treatment from female surgeons, while praising the support they receive from School of Medicine peers and leadership — and talk about how much they love their jobs.

Medical Education Resources Initiative for Teens

This initiative aims to eliminate health-care disparities by transforming under-represented high school students into health-care leaders. To accomplish these goals, MERIT ultimately provides seven years of academic, professional and social support.

Mary Elizabeth Garrett Surgical Society

Established in 2022, the Mary Elizabeth Garrett Surgical Society at Johns Hopkins works to advance diversity and enhance surgical training for medical students. It aims to provide mentorship and foster interdisciplinary education. Named for Mary Elizabeth Garrett, an original benefactor of the School of Medicine, it strives to uphold her legacy of innovation, philanthropy and promoting diversity.

Health-care Disparities Research

Diversity and Inclusion Points of Contact for the Department of Surgery

Andrew M. Cameron, M.D., Ph.D.

Surgeon-in-Chief, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Alejandro Vera Garcia, M.D.

Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Lawrence B. Brown, M.D.

Resident Lead, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
GME DEI Representative

Carla M. Lopez, M.D.

Resident Lead, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Johns Hopkins Residency and Fellowship Programs Win the 2023 ACGME Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award

The Barbara Ross-Lee, DO Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award is a national award that recognizes efforts to achieve diversity, equity and inclusion in graduate medical education.

Learn more about this award Learn more about School of Medicine diversity

Healthcare workers wearing colored scrubs for pride.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Johns Hopkins Medicine embraces diversity and inclusion, from higher leadership to our faculty, trainees and staff. These values are celebrated and put in action in many ways across our institution.

Johns Hopkins Medicine Equity Statement

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