Opening Ceremony - Announcements

3:00 pm - AAGL MED TALK 2  - History of Racial Disparities in Gynecology; Then and Now
Gabrielle Whitmore, MD, MBS Gabrielle Whitmore is a board-certified OBGYN who completed her residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at the University of Michigan. She is currently a faculty member at the University of Colorado, where she serves as the Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Rotation Assistant Program Director, Co-Director of the Center for Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain, and on the DEI Executive Board as the Resident Liaison. Dr. Whitmore has and continues to conduct ongoing research in the realm of DEI in medicine—with an emphasis on racial disparities in patient care. As a faculty member at the University of Colorado, she designs and implements DEI educational programming, within the OBGYN department, for medical students, residents, and Faculty. She also serves in mentorship programs for underrepresented minority students and residents and has a strong commitment to volunteer service within the larger Denver community.

The scales of justice, within the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, have long tipped away from patients of color. The history of gynecology, dating back to the 19th century, reveals how patients of color and other minoritized groups have been neglected, disadvantaged, and even mistreated as a foundation for modern gynecology. Even today, data demonstrates how racial disparities exist and persist with regard to endometriosis evaluation and management, as well as in perioperative outcomes for hysterectomies and myomectomies. These inequities are having damaging effects on our BIPOC communities, and they must be addressed moving forward. Fortunately, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery is one field of practice that is helping to balance these scales of injustice and work towards more equitable health outcomes for patients in the BIPOC community. The goal of this MED Talk is to provide historical context for racial disparities in the field of gynecology; to bring awareness of existing racial disparities; and to contribute to the disruption and elimination of present inequities—shedding light on how minimally invasive surgery can help to shift this paradigm.
Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1) Have a deeper understanding of the history of racial disparities in the field of gynecology and how that history has shaped and even led to contemporary practices that perpetuate inequity in patient care; 2) Be able to identify how racial disparities still exist in current literature and practices for minimally invasive gynecology; and 3) Recognize ways in which minimally invasive gynecologic surgery offers opportunities to overcome and address some of the racial inequities in gynecology. Course Description and Objectives: This presentation will offer a structured, tripartite approach to incorporate diversity and belonging into gynecologic practice. Racial disparity in gynecology affects patient care, research, and education and its devastating consequences are well documented. At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to explain current racial disparities that affect patients and providers and evidence-based recommendations to improve diversity and decrease racial inequality in patient care, research, and education.

Special Lectures and Round Table Discussion
3:15 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives in Academic Medicine
Michelle Louie, MD, MSCR Michelle Louie, MD, MSCR, FACOG is an AAGL fellowship-trained Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon with an additional American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology focused-practice designation in Minimally Invasive Gynecology Surgery (MIGS). She attended medical school at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, completed residency at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, and MIGS fellowship training at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. Dr. Louie has a high-volume MIGS-focused practice at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona with a focus on uterine fibroids and endometriosis. In addition to her clinical activities, Dr. Louie is actively engaged in academic research and education. Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1) Describe a structured approach to initiating diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in an academic gynecology practice; 2) Define actionable steps to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in gynecology.

3:25 Turning Data into Equity: Strategies for Addressing Disparities in an Academic Practice
Erin Carey, MD, MSCR Erin T. Carey, MD, MSCR is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) where she also serves as Fellowship Program Director and Division Director in the Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS). She completed undergraduate and medical school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, residency at the Mayo Clinic- Rochester, MN, and fellowship at the UNC-Chapel Hill in 2012. Following MIGS fellowship, she completed additional training in Pain Medicine and currently directs the Urogenital Pain Clinic. She serves on the FMIGS Board of Directors and is the immediate Past-President of the International Pelvic Pain Society. Common themes in her research include reporting and modifying surgical outcomes and exploring peripheral and central pain mechanisms, with the objective of identifying novel treatment strategies for different subgroups. Her long-term goal is to incorporate effective treatments into clinical practice. Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1) Acknowledge the significance of transitioning from the identification phase of disparity work in gynecologic care to actively engaging in reparation efforts; 2) Recognize the limitations of academic hospital infrastructure and understand how these impact access to gynecologic services; 3) Explore actionable opportunities to address these structural inequities in healthcare delivery by improving access to gynecologic care and enhancing the overall patient experience.

3:35 Social Needs, and Not Social Determinants, as Barriers to Cancer Surgery
Abdulrahman K. Sinno, MD

3:45 DEI is not a Trend: Best Practices to Avoid Tokenism
Adeoti Oshinowo, MD, MPH
Dr. Adeoti Oshinowo is an Assistant Professor and minimally invasive surgeon and pelvic pain specialist at Indiana University School of Medicine. She received her MD from Stanford University School of Medicine, her MPH from UC Berkeley School of Public Health; and did her Ob/Gyn residency at the University of Michigan. After her MIGS Fellowship at Florida Hospital Orlando, she was in private practice for a few years at Baylor Scott and White in Plano and Garland, Texas. Her research interests are in surgical curriculum development and evaluation with a focus on robotic education. She has a passion for education at all levels. She also enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and salsa dancing. Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1) To define DEI and its importance to institutions; 2) Recognize tokenism and its dangers. 3) Explain strategies to avoid tokenism and sustain DEI efforts.

3:55 Round Table Discussion – All Faculty

4:15 Adjourn