Astvad, Mads

Bentsen, Gunnar

Escher, Cecilia

Haney, Michael

Hoffmann-Petersen, Joachim

Hyllested, Mette

Junttila, Eija

Laake, Jon H.

Moller, Morten H.

Nellgard, Per

Nyberg, Annette

Olkkola, Klaus

Pedersen, Steffen K. A.

Pischke, Soren E.

Reinikainen, Matti

Strand, Kristian

Thorarensen, Gunnar

Thormar, Katrin

Tonnessen, Tor I.

English

Møller, Morten H.

Nellgård, Per

Pischke, Søren E.

Tønnessen, Tor I.

Copenhagen University Research Information System

A policy for diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism in the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SSAI)

Helsingin yliopiston digitaalinen arkisto

https://helda.helsinki.fiA policy for diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism in theScandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive CareMedicine (SSAI)Laake, Jon H.2022-01Laake , J H , Astvad , M , Bentsen , G , Escher , C , Haney , M , Hoffmann-Petersen , J ,Hyllested , M , Junttila , E , Moller , M H , Nellgard , P , Nyberg , A , Olkkola , K , Pedersen ,S K A , Pischke , S E , Reinikainen , M , Strand , K , Thorarensen , G , Thormar , K &Tonnessen , T I 2022 , ' A policy for diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism in theScandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SSAI) ' , ActaAnaesthesiologica Scandinavica , vol. 66 , no. 1 , pp. 141-144 . https://doi.org/10.1111/aas.13978http://hdl.handle.net/10138/353534https://doi.org/10.1111/aas.13978unspecifiedacceptedVersionDownloaded from Helda, University of Helsinki institutional repository.This is an electronic reprint of the original article.This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail.Please cite the original version. - 1 -  Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica    A policy for diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism in the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SSAI)  Jon Henrik Laake*, Mads Astvad, Gunnar Bentsen, Cecilia Escher, Michael Haney, Joachim Hoffmann-Petersen, Mette Hyllested, Eija Junttila, Morten Hylander Møller, Per Nellgård, Annette Nyberg, Klaus Olkkola, Steffen Kløve Albæk Pedersen, Søren Erik Pischke, Matti Reinikainen, Gunnar Thorarensen, Katrin Thormar, Tor Inge Tønnessen.          _________________________________________  * Author for correspondence  Jon Henrik Laake MD PhD EDIC  Division of Critical Care and Emergencies  Rikshospitalet Medical Centre Oslo University Hospital 0027 OSLO NORWAY  e-mail: jlaake@ous-hf.no   Phone: +47 23070000  Orcid-id: 0000-0001-6157-5359     - 2 -  Author affiliations.   Jon Henrik Laake, MD, PhD, EDIC Chair Norwegian Society of Anaesthesiology  Senior Consultant  Division of Critical Care and Emergencies  Rikshospitalet Medical Centre Oslo University Hospital 0027 Oslo Norway  jlaake@ous-hf.no (work) jhlaake@me.com (home)  +47 23070000 (work) +47 97660919 (home)   Mads Astvad, MD Webmaster Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine  Dept of Anaesthesiology and Intensive care Odense University Hospital Denmark   E-mail: mailto:astvad@gmail.com    Gunnar Bentsen MD PhD EDIC DEAA Secretary General Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine   Senior Consultant  Division of Critical Care and Emergencies  Oslo University Hospital - Rikshospitalet 0424 OSLO NORWAY  gbentsen@ous-hf.no (work) gunnarbentsen@hotmail.com (home)  +47 23070000 (work)   Cecilia Escher MD, PhD Chair Educational Committee, Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine     - 3 -  Senior Consultant Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm Sweden  E-mail: Cecilia.escher@ki.se     Michael Haney, M.D., Ph.D. Editor-in-Chief Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica  Senior Consultant Professor of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Academic Section Head, Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Umeå University and the University Hospital of Umeå S-90185 Umeå, Sweden  E-mail: michael.haney@umu.se    Joachim Hoffmann-Petersen, MD Chair  The Danish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine  Senior Consultant Dept of anaesthesiology and intensive care Odense University Hospital  Svendborg Denmark  E-mail: Joachim.hoffmann-petersen@rsyd.dk    Mette Hyllested Board Member Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine  Senior Consultant Dep. of Anaesthesiology Holbæk Hospital  Holbæk Denmark  E-mail: methyl01@gmail.com    Eija Junttila, MD, PhD Chair  The Finnish Society of Anaesthesiologists    - 4 -  Senior consultant Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Tampere University Hospital PO Box 2000 33521 Tampere Finland   E-mail: eija.junttila@fimnet.fi  Tel. +358 40 5693919   Morten Hylander Møller, MD, PhD, EDIC Chair Clinical Practice Committee, Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine  Associate Professor Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen Department of Intensive Care 4131 Blegdamsvej 9 DK - 2100  Copenhagen Denmark  E-mail: mortenhylander@gmail.com Phone: +45 225 55 343   Per Nellgård, MD, PhD Treasurer  Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine  Senior Consultant  Sahlgrenska University Hospital Dept. Anaestesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Blå stråket 5, 5th floor S-416 45 Gothenburg Sweden  E-mail: per.nellgard@vgregion.se    (Work) Phone: +46 (0)31-3428146             (Work)   Annette Nyberg, överläkare, Anestesikliniken Chair, Swedish Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care   Senior Consultant Alingsås hospital 441 83 Alingsås Sweden  E-mail: annette.nyberg@vgregion.se   - 5 -   Matti Reinikainen, MD, PhD, EDIC Board Member Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine  Professor of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care,  University of Eastern Finland and Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland  Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Room 3144, Kaarisairaala; Puijonlaaksontie 2, Kuopio; PB 100 70029 KYS Kuopio Finland   E-mail: matti.reinikainen@kuh.fi  Tel. +358 44 7176681   Klaus Olkkola, MD, PhD President Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine   Professor and Academic Chair Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital PO Box 340 (Haartmaninkatu 4) FI-00029 HUS Helsinki Finland  Mobile: +358 40 758 3655 E-mail: klaus.olkkola@helsinki.fi    ORCID ID 0000-0001-7872-8665   Steffen Kløve Albæk Pedersen, MD Board member Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine  Senior registrar Dept of anaesthesiology and intensive care Odense University Hospital Denmark  E-mail: steffen@skap.dk    Søren E Pischke, MD PhD Director Acta Anaesthesiologica Foundation Board member Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine  - 6 -   Senior Consultant Division of Critical Care and Emergencies  Rikshospitalet Medical Centre Oslo University Hospital 0027 OSLO NORWAY e-mail: s.e.pischke@medisin.uio.no  Phone: +47 45486579  ORCID: 0000-0003-2543-3251   Gunnar Thorarensen Deputy chair  Icelandic society of anesthesia and intensive care  Senior consultant, program director Landspitali university hospital Fossvogur 108 Reykjavik  E-mail: gunnarth@landspitali.is Tel. +354 824 6028   Katrin Thormar, MD, EDIC Chair  The Icelandic Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine  Senior consultant Dept. of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Landspitali University Hospital Fossvogi 108 Reykjavik Iceland  E-mail: katrinthormar@gmail.com  Tel. +354 8253665   Tor Inge Tønnessen, MD, PhD, President of SSAI congress in 2022 Board member Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine  Senior Consultant Division of Critical Care and Emergencies  Rikshospitalet Medical Centre Oslo University Hospital 0027 OSLO Norway Professor og Anesthesiology and Intensive Care  - 7 -  Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Oslo 0316 Oslo Norway  t.i.tonnessen@medisin.uio.no T: +47 91700717  ORCID: 0000-0002-3511-5815    - 8 -  The Board of the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SSAI) recognises that the diversity of our members, and of our professional and patient community, must be reflected in all parts of our organisation. Diversity metrics include, but are not limited to, individual (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation), cultural (e.g. religious affiliation), and geopolitical (e.g. nationality). These characteristics may cause individuals to feel naturally included in, or excluded from, a group.1 (Table 1).  The purpose of this document is to outline a policy to ensure that the diversity of the Nordic community of anaesthesiologists, our workplace and our patients, is explicitly addressed in the governance of SSAI, including: The SSAI board and committees, clinical practice guidelines, conference speakers/chairs, meetings at local, national, and international levels to (i) ensure representativeness, (ii) provide role models, and (iii) foster a sense of community based on inclusion. This also applies to events that the SSAI may co-host or for which SSAI nominates a representative (e.g., representative at meetings held by other networks/organisations or international meetings/conferences).  In addition, this policy aims to yield measurable outcomes and to ensure that our processes are competitive, transparent, and fair. This extends to transparency and equality regarding funding, scholarships and selection of committee members.  Why is diversity important? When our early role models share certain characteristics (gender, age, colour of skin), we tend to think about such people when we look for someone who may speak for us, teach us or lead us. Thus, we risk reinforcing a stereotypical view of who represents "the best" amongst ourselves. This may discourage those who are different from seeking a particular career or assume offices that may challenge such stereotypes. Such - largely unconscious - attribution of certain characteristics or qualities (good or bad) to any specific group of people is termed implicit bias.2 Any organisation is likely to be affected by implicit bias and meritocratic societies are no exception.   • Equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of Nordic societies and must be reflected in our organisation. • Diversity in life experiences can provide diversity of thought. Diversity in the composition of our society’s governing bodies and committees will contribute to decision-making that reflects a broad range of perspectives. Inclusion is an important factor to consider in addressing organisational issues.  • At professional meetings organized by SSAI, speaker invitations contribute to the profile of academic scholars and clinicians. By inviting ‘under-represented’ members of our professional community to participate at such events, we enhance their visibility. Visibility, in turn, provides an opportunity to create a national or international profile, and serves as a role model for others from the same group. • Representation by SSAI-members at other venues (meetings, conferences and symposia) are important for generating new collaborations, ideas, and directions in science; and for networking (e.g., meeting new mentors and mentees). This is also an opportunity for our officials to promote diversity, e.g. by declining invitations to participate in grossly imbalanced committees, speaker panels or writing groups.  Gender* and age are some of the most visible metrics of diversity.345 In SSAI, language and                                                * In this document, gender refers to the socially constructed roles for women and men, which are often central  - 9 -  nationality are important considerations. Also, the Nordic countries are homes to indigenous peoples and ethnic and/or religious minorities whose representation can be promoted.   The composition of SSAI committees should reflect the diversity and the various disciplines (anaesthesia, pain medicine, prehospital care/acute medicine and intensive care) in our society and our community.  Speaker diversity and the composition of our organising committees should reflect the diversity of our delegates and our professional community.   A diversity policy for the SSAI board and committees  I. Governance Currently the SSAI by-laws (‘articles’) do not direct that diversity be considered in the election of members of the Board or committees. The one exception concerns the nationality of Board members: “The members elected by the General Assembly shall to the greatest possible extent rotate among the member countries”. Any amendment to the articles must be decided by the General Assembly and the Board will suggest that this includes a statement that obliges the Election Committee to consider gender, ethnicity, religion, language, and other unique characteristics to be taken into consideration when proposing candidates to be elected members of the Board. In addition to the Board, the SSAI has several committees which typically consist of one ex-officio member and one elected member from each Nordic country. Because the national representatives are elected by the national societies, the SSAI cannot dictate – but may recommend - how the national societies elect their representatives.   II. Event Organisation Diversity Policy • We aim to use gender neutral terms (e.g., ‘Chair’ instead of ‘Chairman’) • Invitations to present at meetings associated with the SSAI (e.g., plenary lectures, keynote speakers, symposia speakers) will be allotted to high quality researchers/presenters that represent the broad diversity of our community. In this regard, we aim to achieve a balance across geography, gender, ethnicity, and experience. • SSAI will aim for a balanced male:female ratio at conference organising committees and as speakers at events that it hosts/co-hosts. Same-sex speaker-panels and organising committees are strongly discouraged. • SSAI will ensure that sessions at SSAI-sponsored events include a diversity of gender among participants such as moderators, panellists, speakers (specifically, at least one woman and one man for each session). • SSAI will ensure that junior faculty and trainees are represented in our core committees and on conference planning committees for meetings that the SSAI hosts/co-hosts. • SSAI will encourage sessions at SSAI-sponsored events to reflect the diversity of our members’ national and ethnic backgrounds. • SSAI will record and publish speaker and delegate metrics at our own events and events in                                                to the way in which people define themselves and are defined by others.    - 10 -  which it participates or sponsors/co-sponsors.  • When co-hosting an event with another association (signatory, stakeholder, industry or non- industry partner), SSAI will work collaboratively with the organisation to ensure diversity. SSAI reserves the right not to co-host or endorse events that do not align with this policy. Awareness and reporting To ensure awareness of this policy and to be transparent regarding progress, SSAI will monitor diversity metrics at meetings and in the composition of our governing bodies and committees.6 We aim to: • Publish this policy in our societal journal, Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. • Post this policy on the SSAI website. • E-mail the policy to all committee chairs and members • E-mail the policy to all speakers at SSAI sponsored or co-sponsored events. • Reference this policy in conference/meeting materials (e.g., programs, handbooks) with which the SSAI is involved including links to the SSAI website. • Mention/highlight this policy (in brief) in the opening announcements of meetings/conferences that the SSAI participates in (referencing the full document available on the SSAI website) • Print the text of policy on a poster and display it by the registration desk for in-person meetings • Report metrics on the SSAI website to reflect our accountability (see below)  Reporting Metrics We will track and report statistics every second year to ensure that we are achieving our goals. These statistics will be reviewed post-event and collated into summary reports. Specific recommendations will be made based on review of these reports to improve diversity for future events. Metrics will reflect various aspects of diversity including: • Gender, age and nationality of speakers, chairs, committee members • Visible minority or person-of-colour involvement of speakers, chairs, etc • Indigenous people’s involvement as speakers, chairs, etc • Primary language of speakers, chairs, etc • Trainee involvement as speakers, chairs, etc • Academic vs. community hospital affiliation • Allied health care involvement as speakers, chairs, etc • Patient/Family involvement as speakers, chairs, etc  Conclusion Whether we consider daily clinical practice, scientific endeavours or our professional organisation, conscious recognition of the diversity of our community holds great potential for improving our services, expanding our knowledge and fostering unity based on inclusion. SSAI recognises that change will require nudges and this policy document should be seen as a first step. Diversity metrics  - 11 -  collected at regular intervals will help us to assess if any progress is made with respect to fulfilling our goal of being a truly representative society.  Acknowledgement We thank Professor Sangeeta Mehta MD, FRCPC, Dept. of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada, for her valuable input.      - 12 -  References  1. Weiss B, The Task Force and Working Groups for Diversity and Equality of the ESICM. Statement paper on diversity for the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM). Intensive care medicine 2019. doi: 10.1007/s00134-019-05606-0 2. Gopal DP, Chetty U, O’Donnell P, Gajria C, Blackadder-Weinstein J. Implicit bias in healthcare: clinical practice, research and decision making. Futur Heal J 2021; 8: 40–8. 3. Mehta S, Burns KEA, Machado FR, Fox-Robichaud AE, Cook DJ, Calfee CS, Ware LB, Burnham EL, Kissoon N, Marshall JC, Mancebo J, Finfer S, Hartog C, Reinhart K, Maitland K, Stapleton RD, Kwizera A, Amin P, Abroug F, Smith O, Laake JH, Shrestha GS, Herridge MS. Gender Parity in Critical Care Medicine. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2017; 196: 425–9. 4. Morgan AU, Chaiyachati KH, Weissman GE, Liao JM. Eliminating Gender-Based Bias in Academic Medicine: More Than Naming the “Elephant in the Room.”J Gen Intern Med 2018; 33: 966–8. 5. Leigh JP, Grood C de, Ahmed S, Bosma K, Burns KEA, Fowler R, Fox-Robichaud A, Mehta S, Mele T, Straus SE, Zepeda N, Kemp L, Fiest K, Stelfox HT. Improving gender equity in critical care medicine: a protocol to establish priorities and strategies for implementation. BMJ Open 2020; 10: e037090. 6. Corona-Sobrino C, García-Melón M, Poveda-Bautista R, González-Urango H. Closing the gender gap at academic conferences: A tool for monitoring and assessing academic events. Plos One 2020; 15: e0243549.      - 13 -  Table 1 Examples of diversity characteristics   Diversity dimension Metric Individual Gender  Age  Sexual identity or orientation  Disabilities  Colour of skin Cultural Ethnicity  Cultural background  Religious beliefs  Political beliefs  Social identity  Family responsibilities Geo-political Nationality  Primary language  Geographical location    - 14 -   Appendix: Sample Reporting Metrics (using gender as an example) For our governance committee (SSAI Board) we will collate and report statistics to ensure that we are achieving our goals. For the composition of our Board Board Members (N) Total Men Women Other/Prefer not to say       For meetings/conferences we will similarly report The number of individuals who are invited to participate Conference/Meeting Total Invited Men Invited Women Invited Other/Prefer Not to Say Organizing Committee     Plenary Speakers     Keynote Speakers     Invited Symposia     Session Chairs/Facilitators     Speakers     Abstract Facilitators      The number of individuals who accept an invitation to participate Conference/Meeting Total Men Women Other/Prefer Not to Say Organizing Committee     Plenary Speakers     Keynote Speakers     Invited Symposia     Session Chairs/Facilitators     Speakers     Abstract Facilitators      

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A policy for diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism in the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SSAI)

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