The imperative for scientific societies to change the face of academia: Recommendations for immediate action

Abstract

As organizations that facilitate collaboration and communication, scientific societies have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to drive inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in science in academia. The American Association for Anatomy (AAA), with its expressed and practiced culture of engagement, can serve as a model of best practice for other professional associations working to become more inclusive of individuals from historically underrepresented groups. In this publication, we acknowledge anatomy's exclusionary past, describe the present face of science in academia, and provide recommendations for societies, including the AAA, to accelerate change in academia. We are advocating for scientific societies to investigate inequities and revise practices for inclusivity; develop and empower underrepresented minority leadership; and commit resources in a sustained manner as an investment in underrepresented scientists who bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences to science in academia.

Evolution of a discipline—The changing face of anatomy

“…I am so privileged to belong to our amazing organization, and I owe my career to the guidance and mentorship provided by my peers and colleagues in the AAA. I also recognize that my experience in anatomy is not the same as others' (Carroll et al, 2022).…”

“…Finally, the special issue concludes with Carroll et al's ( 2022 ) assessment of the AAA's own challenges with diversity, equity, and inclusion. The article outlines several ways that our Association has attempted to address issues of limited diversity, inequities, and the marginalization of certain groups among the membership.…”

Racism, structural racism, and the American Association for Anatomy: Initial report from a task force

“…The AAA has a DEI Committee, which is charged with creating strategies to increase representation and engagement of the membership, work with the other AAA committees to ensure and assess DEI throughout the association. Many of these initiatives have recently been described (Carroll et al, 2022), as has a toolkit for making anatomy curricula more inclusive (Finn et al, 2022). Two major new programs being funded by the AAA include the Anatomy Scholars Program (a professional development, mentorship and networking program) and POP AART (Portfolios of People: Advancing Anatomical Representation), a project to create a representative library of anatomical images across categories of race, ethnicity, gender, body habitus, age, physical ability, and accessibility.…”

“…Over the last 10 years or so, many universities and scientific associations have formed DEI offices or committees, including the American Association for Anatomy (AAA). The value to scientific societies of being proactive and not just reactive has recently been emphasized as an important mechanism to change the face of academia (Carroll et al, 2022). The AAA's DEI Committee has focused on developing new programs to address multiple issues (Carroll et al, 2022).…”

“…The value to scientific societies of being proactive and not just reactive has recently been emphasized as an important mechanism to change the face of academia (Carroll et al, 2022). The AAA's DEI Committee has focused on developing new programs to address multiple issues (Carroll et al, 2022). However, many AAA members poorly understand the historical effects of racism and structural racism on the Association's DEI.…”