Equipping surgeons with strategies to address workplace bias: evaluation of a cultural humility curriculum

Abstract Purpose Bias and discrimination are prevalent in surgical training and practice, affecting the learning environment and patient outcomes. While many surgical training programs have recognized that awareness of cultural issues and discrimination are important, most lack structured approaches to address them. This study’s aim was to evaluate the impact of a cultural humility curriculum on self-reported strategies for addressing bias among surgeons and learners. Methods In 2021 a needs assessment was performed to assess surgical program culture. In response, we developed a cultural humility curriculum which consisted of hour-long sessions presented at surgical grand rounds conference. An evaluation survey was distributed in May 2024 eliciting demographics, number of sessions attended, feedback on relevance of the curriculum, and whether participants felt equipped with strategies for addressing discrimination. Chi-square tests determined association between number of sessions attended and question responses. Results Of 51 who responded to the evaluation, the majority were male (61%) and white (65%). 41% were medical students, 20% residents, and 33% attending physicians. 71% said the curriculum provided them strategies for addressing issues of discrimination and 44% said they had used the strategies. Those who attended > 10 sessions used strategies more often (69%) than those who attended 6–10 sessions (62%) and 1–5 sessions (11%), p = 0.011. Among medical students (n = 19), 48% said the curriculum positively influenced their perception of the field and 29% said it positively influenced their desire to pursue a surgical specialty. Among sexual minority students (bisexual or gay students, n = 3), 100% said they were more likely to pursue a surgical specialty after participating in the curriculum. Conclusions A cultural humility curriculum at our institution provided learners and surgeons with strategies to address discrimination in the workplace and positively influenced medical student perceptions of the surgical field.