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Evaluation Of Workplace Environment In Transplant Medicine: Harassment Should Not Be The “Reality Of Life”

M. Reilly1, T. Branstool1, S. Gregory1, T. R. Pearson2, T. S. Purnell3, G. Gunasekaran4, B. Kelly5, P. N. Martins6, C. M. Mobley7, S. M. Black8, E. C. Maynard9, D. C. Simpson10, M. B. Shah11, O. Ekwenna1, J. Locke12, J. Ortiz1

1Surgical Transplant, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, 2Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 3Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 4Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, 5DCI Donor Services, Nashville, TN, 6University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 7Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, 8The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 9Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 10Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 11University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 12University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: D5

Keywords: African-American, Public policy, Quality of life

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session D: Quality Assurance Process Improvement & Regulatory Issues

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

 Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Hall C & D

*Purpose: The recent increase in publications detailing discrimination and harassment in the medical setting has brought to light potential impairments of medical professional health and well-being. Determining whether workplace stressors are prevalent in transplant medicine will allow leaders to address and remedy the problem, ultimately leading to better outcomes and continued diversity in the field.

*Methods: The ASTS Diversity Committee assessed the breadth and scope of possible workplace stressors by surveying ASTS members. Members participated in an online survey from August 15, 2018 through November 2, 2018. The anonymous survey was composed of thirty-four questions. Topics included race, ethnicity, experiences of mistreatment, and reporting of harassment.

*Results: Of the 186 participants surveyed, 71.5% were white or caucasian, 65.6% were male, and 75.3% were attending physicians in transplant surgery. Harassment or mistreatment was experienced by 65.1% of responders, with 36.0% qualifying its nature as gender discrimination and 27.0% describing it as racial or ethnic discrimination. The main effects of this harassment were reported to be burnout, difficulties in teamwork, mental health issues, and patient care or safety by 93.3%, 80.9%, 51.7% and 39.3% respectively. Of note, 53.8% of responders stated they had never reported an incident of harassment or mistreatment. For those who did, 47.1% felt the situation was handled “very poorly.” When asked if responders would trust a report to remain anonymous, 56.7% said they would not.

*Conclusions: The field of transplant medicine is not exempt from potentially insensitive interactions, which have significant effects on those targeted and can potentially affect patient care. Identifying areas where improvement is needed will help to set preventative measures to ensure the continuation of a welcoming and copacetic field.

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To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Reilly M, Branstool T, Gregory S, Pearson TR, Purnell TS, Gunasekaran G, Kelly B, Martins PN, Mobley CM, Black SM, Maynard EC, Simpson DC, Shah MB, Ekwenna O, Locke J, Ortiz J. Evaluation Of Workplace Environment In Transplant Medicine: Harassment Should Not Be The “Reality Of Life” [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/evaluation-of-workplace-environment-in-transplant-medicine-harassment-should-not-be-the-reality-of-life/. Accessed May 8, 2025.

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