The importance of a vice chair in a department of surgery: A chair's perspective.

Abstract

From the perspective of chair, there is essential work to do before designating a vice chair, leader, and/or advocate for departmental inclusivity, and that is to work to create a departmental culture that values diversity, embraces different worldviews, and includes a variety of different perspectives. It is important to empower and resource with protected time and budget a vice chair who can be active and intentional day in and day out to create, maintain (and hopefully expand) an inclusive community. Their work should be augmented with a committee inclusive of staff, faculty, and trainees who can provide feedback and creative ideas. Additional leaders might be needed to complement a vice chair, such as a director for gender equity. Vice chairs should be networked into larger communities of peers at a local and national level to share best practices and enhance their dissemination.