Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Yale’s Department of Surgery is committed to supporting and escalating the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts of the Yale School of Medicine Office of DEI. Aligned with the “tripartite” mission of academic surgery, we will work thoughtfully and intentionally to ensure the equitable provision of care to all patients, to safeguard a healthy learning environment for all learners, and to pursue research endeavors with the totality of humanity in mind. We believe that diversity is excellence, equity is the cornerstone of progress, and that inclusion elevates all.

I was initially appointed as Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for the Yale Department of Surgery, a role that allowed me to champion critical efforts in fostering diversity and belonging within the department. It is now my honor to serve as Vice Chair of Education and Inclusive Excellence. I embrace this new responsibility with enthusiasm and dedication, committed to advancing our department's mission of creating an environment where every individual feels valued and supported. Fully aware of the heightened prevalence of leaders in the DEI space, our department believes these roles should engender the responsibility of broadening the lens of our colleagues and facilitate the understanding that diversity, equity, and inclusivity are markers of excellence. With that in mind, it is our unapologetic goal to “Weave DEI into the fabric of our historic department”.

In our department, our DEI efforts will amplify and extend culture change started by Dr. Nita Ahuja, Chair and William H. Carmalt Professor of Surgery, upon her appointment in 2018. I will work with Dr. Ahuja and the other Vice-chairs to ensure transparent and equitable processes for recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, and advancement of faculty and learners. We will evaluate our clinical practices with a focus on equity and access. Finally, we will expand our research portfolio in the DEI space pertaining to surgical endeavors.

We will work tirelessly to help our department expand on the rich history of excellence and innovation that has been our defining characteristics for more than 200 years. We welcome all respectful thoughts and suggestions as we progress on our DEI journey. We invite you to explore our webpage to learn more about our Departmental, School of Medicine, and University-wide DEI efforts and initiatives.

— Paris Butler, MD, MPH, FACS
Vice Chair of Education and Inclusive Excellence
Associate Professor, Plastic Surgery