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Allyship to Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Otolaryngology: What We Can All Do

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Abstract

Purpose of review

To summarize the current literature on allyship, providing a historical perspective, concept analysis, and practical steps to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion. This review also provides evidence-based tools to foster allyship and identifies potential pitfalls.

Recent findings

Allies in healthcare advocate for inclusive and equitable practices that benefit patients, coworkers, and learners. Allyship requires working in solidarity with individuals from underrepresented or historically marginalized groups to promote a sense of belonging and opportunity. New technologies present possibilities and perils in paving the pathway to diversity.

Summary

Unlocking the power of allyship requires that allies confront unconscious biases, engage in self-reflection, and act as effective partners. Using an allyship toolbox, allies can foster psychological safety in personal and professional spaces while avoiding missteps. Allyship incorporates goals, metrics, and transparent data reporting to promote accountability and to sustain improvements. Implementing these allyship strategies in solidarity holds promise for increasing diversity and inclusion in the specialty.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Funding

Emily Boss: National Institutes of Health (NIH), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, Understanding Clinician-Parent Interaction to Reduce Disparities and Improve Quality of Pediatric Surgical Care, (Project Number: 1R21HD108565-01A1); and National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Project CONNECTS (Communication and Outcomes that eNhaNce Equity in Childhood Tonsillectomy and Sleep) (1 R01 HL166504-01). Evan Graboyes: National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute, Improving the Timeliness and Equity of Adjuvant Therapy Following Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer (Project Number: 5K08CA237858-04); and National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute, A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate a Novel Treatment Strategy for Body Image Related Distress Among Head and Neck Cancer Survivors (1R37CA269385-01). Jennifer Villwock: National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging, Olfactory Phenotypes as Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease: a machine learning approach (Project Number: 1R01AG072624-01A1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Karthik Balakrishnan

  2. Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of CA–Davis , Sacramento, USA

    Erynne A. Faucett

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

    Jennifer Villwock

  4. Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Emily F. Boss

  5. Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Brandon I. Esianor

  6. Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Gina D. Jefferson

  7. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA

    Evan M. Graboyes

  8. Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA

    Evan M. Graboyes

  9. Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Dana M. Thompson

  10. Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Dana M. Thompson

  11. Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Valerie A. Flanary

  12. Department of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, University of Michigan medical School, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, 48108, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Michael J. Brenner

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  1. Karthik Balakrishnan
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Correspondence to Michael J. Brenner.

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Michael J. Brenner reports being President and Board Member for Global Tracheostomy Collaborative (volunteer service; no financial relationship). The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Balakrishnan, K., Faucett, E.A., Villwock, J. et al. Allyship to Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Otolaryngology: What We Can All Do. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 11, 201–214 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-023-00467-0

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