President’s column By Matthew S. Johnson, MD, FSIR A new wave of IR
Creating systems and changing the specialty takes time, but we’ve already begun the work.
S
IR is not a homogenous society. Our members are comprised of differing ages, races, genders, orientations,
identities, ethnicities, socioeconomic status and ideologies. Some members came to IR through dedicated pathways and a network of support, while others achieved certification after having been trained in different countries. Some of us work in academic hospitals, but many of us work in private practice or as partners within diagnostic radiology groups. Celebrating and supporting the differences and disparate needs of our membership—and our patients—has become a main priority of SIR, and one to which I am particularly devoted.
To that end, we have identified several areas of growth, such as working to recruit more women and underrepresented minorities to the specialty and medicine in general. But creating a diverse specialty isn’t just about increasing demographic numbers—it also requires doing the work to help all current and prospective members feel comfortable and excel. SIR Foundation already offers educational grants to help new members join the field of IR, and SIR has begun establishing diversity resources and support systems to help these members flourish.
Equity work also involves taking a closer look at the specific needs and areas of our membership and committing ourselves to creating a governance structure that represents and maximizes
the experiences of our society. Though we are all one specialty, IR is more akin to a quilt made of subspecialties and research areas. These differences in practice area are part of what make IR so unique—but as the specialty grows, so too do the differences. The needs of an academic researcher are different from the needs of an IR running a vein clinic, and a pediatric IR faces very different practice challenges than a neuro IR. We need to create systems to meet each of those needs and support IRs in facing these challenges.
And finally, we cannot forget that equity work doesn’t just take place within our own society. As physicians, carers and community leaders, we also have to do the work to address inequality in care. This means addressing our own unconscious biases and being willing to open dialogues with our peers, both inside and outside the specialty, about how to improve access. It means doing the work to close the gaps. We are IRs, but we’re also health care providers—we all share the common goal of improving lives and wellness, and equity work is directly in line with that goal.
Creating systems and changing the specialty takes time, but we’ve already begun the work. And I see the excitement and passion in my peers when we talk about all the possibilities for the future of IR. Together, we are creating a new culture of IR that can be even more innovative and daring than the one that came before.
6 IRQ | SUMMER 2021
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