The field of transplant surgery lacks representation from Black women, with less than 20 nationwide. African Americans are the largest group of minorities in need of organ transplants. To address this issue, Tennessee Donor Services partnered with Meharry Medical College to create a program that allows rising second-year students to shadow the donor agency and learn about the complexities of organ transplantation. The program aims to encourage students of color to consider a career in transplant surgery and increase representation within the field.
Dr. Dinee C. Simpson, Northwestern Medicine’s chief health equity officer, emphasized the importance of multiple exposure opportunities for individuals at various stages of their education and training. While there are challenges to accessing transplants for communities of color, including a scarcity of organs and rules that disadvantage those with fewer resources, Simpson believes that representation is key. By making surgeons in the field more visible and offering mentorship programs, aspiring transplant surgeons can be better supported and encouraged to pursue careers in the field.
