Keynote Speakers:
- Haile T. Debas, M.D.
- The Honorable Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., M.A.C.P.
- John L. Tarpley, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.W.A.C.S.

Offered by: The Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Location: Seaport World Trade Center Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A

Although disparities in surgical care have been documented, few attempts have been made to systematically study and understand the complex determinants of these disparities. Moreover, few studies have valuated interventions to eliminate disparities in surgical care. We need to develop, implement, and evaluate
strategic changes in our health care systems, our patients, and ourselves to eliminate disparities in access to surgical services, as well as the outcomes of surgical care.

Given the complexity of these issues, this unique course provides an opportunity for a broad based coalition of clinicians, policy makers, advocates, and other stakeholders to put forward multi-pronged approaches to the elimination of surgical disparities. The focus of this symposium is to translate research to practice. Because surgical disparities are not limited to populations in the United States, the global problem of disparities in surgery and its unique challenges will be addressed, including presentations of case studies from the developing world.

Constrained resources, systems of care, quality of surgical care, and surgical safety all impact the delivery of surgical care and often effect disparate outcomes. These facets will be explored in greater depth. The role of academic medical centers in surgical delivery, issues of workforce development and human capital, the impact of health care reform with Massachusetts as a model, the importance of data collection of race/ethnicity and primary language, and community participatory interventions as they impact these disparities will also be addressed.

In this second symposium, we aim to build on the momentum and energy of the first meeting and continue to seek to understand the nature of disparities in surgical care and the factors that influence and mitigate them. To that end, this course is structured to have multiple opportunities for formal and informal interaction with faculty and will foster networking and collaboration.

Links to Register or download a course brochure; For More Information, please contact Bridget Craig with any questions about the symposium at 617-525-7300 or bmcraig[at]partners.org.