Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Mission Statement

To broaden engagement, advance principles of diversity and inclusive excellence, and assure an environment that ensures equity and prevents discrimination based on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, practice-type, or national origin.

Goals

Guide diversity within CNS Executive Committee and Staff Guide diversity within CNS programming and membership Guide diversity within neurosurgical applicants

Short-Term Goals

Below are details of the 5-year forecast for this committee:

• Increase DEI knowledge amongst CNS Executive Committee (EC) and staff
• Increase diversity amongst the faculty for online and in person educational events
• Have multiple educational offerings discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts
• Establish mentorship and scholarship programs for underrepresented minority at Annual Meeting sites and other sites
• Increase engagement by neurosurgeons in non-academic practices

Current Projects

• DEI work with the CNS EC and Staff. In the summer of 2021, the CNS administered a survey to EC members to measure inclusivity amongst EC members. All of the EC also participated in an DEI workshop led by Goodstock consulting. 
• DEI work with CNS Membership:
  • Best practices instituted to ensure diversity of faculty invited for CNS sponsored educational offerings
  • Subcommittees convened to work on engaging neurosurgeons from diverse backgrounds
  • Inaugural course at 2021 Annual Meeting entitled Leadership and Diversity which will include discussions led by Goodstock Consulting
• DEI work with our community:
  • Pathway to Neurosurgery program
    • Inviting local high school students for a day at the Annual Meeting to be a "neurosurgeon for a day." In honor of the late Dr. Tim George and in collaboration with Breakthrough.
  • Community Engagement Program
    • Empowering local neurosurgeons to engage with local high school students for mentoring and scholarship. Pilot project in collaboration with Dr. Sonia Eden. 

Pathway to Neurosurgery

2021 Program in Honor of Dr. Timothy George 

CNS' DEI committee launched its inaugural "Pathway to Neurosurgery" program in Austin in October 2021. In collaboration with Rosalind George and Breakthrough, this program had over 30 local high school students, many first generation college bound, take part in an immersive experience, including lectures from leading neurosurgeons, a plenary talk from guest speaker Dr. Mae C. Jemison, America's first African American female astronaut and participated in a hands-on activity lab that gave them insight into a day in a neurosurgeon's life. Following the program, these students had the opportunity to apply for a mentoring experience with Austin Dell neurosurgeons through the Neurosurgery Experience award with the recipients to be selected by April 2022. 

Pathway to Neurosurgery- 2021 Program

Special thank you to all our volunteers who participated in the 2021 program!

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources

• Black Lives in Neurosurgery Webinars
• Congress Quarterly
• Annual Meeting Sessions

Other Resources

Women in Neurosurgery (WINS)
http://www.neurosurgerywins.org/

The American Society of Black Neurosurgeons, Inc. (ASBN)
https://twitter.com/amsobns  

Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (CSNS)
https://csnsonline.org/

Committee