Social Media: Flattening Hierarchies for Women and Black, Indigenous, People Of Color (BIPOC) to Enter the Room Where It Happens

Demographic representation among speakers at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) spring conferences

BACKGROUND

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) is a leading medical society for infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship. This descriptive study evaluated speaker demographics at the annual SHEA Spring conferences from 2019 to 2022.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, descriptive analysis of the demographic composition of speakers at the annual SHEA Spring conferences between 2019 and 2022, excluding the cancelled 2020 conference. Self-reported demographics were available for gender, race, ethnicity, age, primary practice setting, and professional degrees in speaker and membership categories.

RESULTS

In total, 447 speaker slots were filled by 305 unique speakers over 3 years. Average annual membership included 55.2% female, 44.8% male, 69.3% White, 21.4% Asian, 6.0% Hispanic/Latino, 2.9% Black, and 0.4% American Indian/Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AIAN/NHPI); 48.9% did not report a race or ethnicity. Speakers during the same period were 63.5% female, 36.5% male, 68.2% White, 13.3% Asian, 3.8% Black, 3.4% Hispanic/Latino, 0.8% AIAN/NHPI; 13.4% did not report race or ethnicity. In 2021, pharmacists represented 11.6% of speakers (and 2.9% of members) and members with nondoctoral degrees represented 11.6% of speakers (and 21.5% of members) (P < .0001). In each year, we detected underrepresentation of community and private-practice speakers relative to membership (eg, in 2022, 4.3% of speakers vs 15.7% of members; P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The SHEA Spring conferences demonstrated an increase in pharmacist speakers over time, but speakers from community hospitals and with nondoctoral degrees remain underrepresented relative to membership. Racial and ethnic minoritized individuals remain underrepresented as members and speakers. Intentional interventions are needed to consistently achieve equitable speaker representation across multiple demographic groups.

Collaboration is key: the role of social media in advancing surgical research

Social media has revolutionized how we design, deliver, and disseminate surgical research for the better. The rise of collaborative research groups has been a major contributor to and beneficiary of social media, leading to increased involvement from clinicians, medical students, healthcare professionals, patients, and industry. Everyone benefits from collaborative research by widening access and participation and delivering more impactful research with increasing validity of results applicable to global populations. Now more than ever, the international surgical community is engaged in the process of surgical research, including the role of interdisciplinary collaboration. Patient groups are also central to the process of collaboration. By delivering increasingly relevant research, and by asking pertinent research questions that patients value, higher-impact research is more likely to directly lead to clinical change. From an academic perspective, hierarchies have flattened, facilitating the inclusion of anyone who is interested in contributing to surgical research to be able to do so. Social media has led to a paradigm shift in how surgical research may be conducted. Diversity of thought in research is improving, and engagement in surgical research is at an all-time high. Collaboration of all stakeholders is key to #SoMe4Surgery success and is the new 'gold standard' of surgical research.

Striving for equity in academia: embracing the power of no in decision-making

In academia, saying "yes" to opportunities and "no" to distractions is crucial for effective decision-making. Here, we emphasize the importance of carefully considering commitments and courageously declining those that may lead to overextension. We highlight that discernment is vital, particularly for junior faculty/scientists and those with marginalized identities, as overcommitment can hinder career advancement. The "Fame, Fortune, and Fun test" offers a practical heuristic for evaluating opportunities, enabling academics to make informed choices. Saying "no" effectively involves preserving personal and professional integrity by declining tasks that do not align with one's abilities or interests. However, challenges in saying "no" are multifaceted, including fear of missing career advancements, pressures to please superiors or peers, and perceived negative consequences. This decision can be even more complex for individuals with minoritized identities, as additional expectations and responsibilities may arise due to implicit biases. The article provides a scheme for academics when deciding whether to accept or decline opportunities. The "Fame, Fortune, and Fun test" is a simplified scheme based on the Japanese concept of Ikigai, which comes from two words that mean life's purpose. The concept allows an individual to determine their reason for being and aim to align their time spent with as many components that satisfy the following four categories: what one loves, what one is good at, what one can be paid for, and what the world needs. The more overlap, the more alignment with Ikigai, and the more compelling reason to say yes. Once one has determined that they can say no, effectively saying "no" involves clear and direct communication, offering alternatives, expressing gratitude, and considering a "not now" approach if unable to commit immediately. To promote inclusivity, we suggest recommending individuals from diverse backgrounds for opportunities. By amplifying underrepresented voices, we can foster a healthier academic environment. Saying "no" empowers academics to prioritize meaningful contributions and maintain work-life balance. Embracing the power of "no" is essential for maintaining integrity and well-being in academia. Junior faculty/scientists and individuals with marginalized identities may face additional challenges in their decision-making. By carefully evaluating commitments and effectively declining non-aligning opportunities, academics can focus on what truly matters, fostering a supportive and thriving academic environment.