Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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ASTS Celebrates Black History Month: Advancing Equity in Transplantation

Feb 3, 2025, 17:48 PM by Anna Shults

The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) proudly celebrates Black History Month, a time to reflect on the achievements and contributions of Black individuals in our communities while reaffirming our commitment to advancing equity in transplantation.

One significant step toward equity in transplantation was ASTS’s advocacy for removing race-based adjustments in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculations. The outdated use of race in eGFR disproportionately delayed access to kidney transplantation for Black patients. By championing the shift to race-neutral eGFR calculations, ASTS helped eliminate a structural barrier that perpetuated health disparities, improving equity for Black transplant candidates.

We are also proud to highlight our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award, which honors individuals and initiatives that actively foster diversity and advance equity in transplantation. This award reinforces our ongoing commitment to building an inclusive transplant community and addressing the challenges faced by underrepresented groups.

Meet this year's DEI Award recipient!

Furthering our commitment, ASTS continues to invest in research through the Socioeconomic and Racial Disparity Grant, providing $50,000 in funding to support studies focused on eliminating health disparities in transplantation. This initiative acknowledges the profound impact of socioeconomic and racial inequities on transplant outcomes and underscores our determination to drive meaningful change through research and advocacy.

Achieving equity requires continuous action, advocacy, and collaboration to ensure that every patient and professional in the transplant community has the opportunity to thrive. As we celebrate Black History Month, our commitment to these principles remains stronger than ever.

Let us not only honor past contributions but also work together to build a future where equity is at the core of everything we do.

February is Black History Month

We're featuring stories from members of the transplant community!

Jay Graham, MD, MBA

Hear from Jay Graham, MD, MBA, Surgical Director, Pancreas Transplantation, ASTS Fellowship Program Director and Associate Professor at Montefiore-Einstein on his journey in transplant and his vision for future generations of transplant surgeons.

2025 Celebrations Calendar

January

Poverty in America Awareness Month
Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
January 20 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day

February

Black History Month
February 4 - Rosa Parks Day
American Heart Month
February 14 - National Donor Day

March

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March 1 - Ramadan
March 8 - International Women's Day
March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 25 - International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery
March 31 - International Transgender Day of Visibility

April

Arab American Awareness Month
Diversity Month
National Donate Life Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Autism Awareness Month
National Deaf History Month
April 23-24 - Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)

May

Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Indian Heritage Month
Jewish-American Heritage Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Speech-Language-Hearing Month
May 21 - World Day for Cultural Diversity

June

Caribbean American Heritage Month
Pride Month
June 19 - Juneteenth

July

Disability Pride Month
July 18 - South Asian Heritage Month begins

August

National Minority Donor Awareness Month
August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous People
August 26 - Women's Equality Day

September

September 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month begins
September 22 - September 24 - Rosh Hashanah

October

LGBTQ+ History Month
National Disability Employment
October 1-2 - Yom Kippur
October 11 - National Coming Out Day
October 20 - Diwali

November

Native American Heritage Month
November 13-19 - Transgender Awareness Week
November 16 - International Day for Tolerance

December

Universal Human Rights Month
December 1 - World AIDS Day
December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 10 - International Human Rights Day

Funding Opportunities

SBAS Intuitive Career Development Award

The Society of Black Academic Surgeons

The SBAS Intuitive Career Development Award spans 2 years and provides $100,000 to the awardee to support direct costs for research.

To be eligible, an applicant must be an active, dues-paying SBAS member, plus:

A medical school faculty member as of January 1, 2025
Have at least 20% protected research effort
And can never have been the PI for a federal K- or R-level award

Learn more.

Visiting Student Diversity Scholarship for General Surgery

The 2024 cycle has closed - stay tuned for more information about the 2025 grant cycle.

The Thomas Jefferson University - Sidney Kimmel Medical College Visiting Student Diversity Scholarship Program for 4th year medical students who are interested in Academic Surgery. The program will be offered to several eligible students in the early fall of the academic year 2024-2025.

Learn more!

ASTS Socio Economic & Racial Disparity (SERD) Grant

2024 grant cycle closed - stay tuned for more information on the 2025 grant cycle

The SERD Grant supports innovative research in addressing health disparities in transplantation. Proposals should aim at addressing and decreasing disparities in transplantation. Examples may include, increasing access in transplantation for populations facing disparities, increasing minority donation, and improving transplant outcomes for socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

$25,000 per year for two years

Learn more!

Additional Resources

Explore more of our resources related to DEI!

DEI Committee

Explore the mission of the DEI Committee and meet the committee members.

Learn more

Heritage Celebration Archive

Explore all of our heritage month celebrations!

Explore

Peer Support Program

If you've experienced an adverse event or just need some extra support, complete our anonymous referral form to be connected to a trained peer supporter.

Learn more

Boldly Against Racism Campaign

In 2021, ASTS formed the Boldly Against Racism Campaign to address disparities. Learn more about the initiative!

Learn more