Integrated Anesthesia Associates is proud to announce the official launch of our newly formed DEI Committee and their new online website presence at www.iaapartners.com/DEI. IAA’s ongoing commitment and actions, spearheaded by the leadership of this committee and Dr. Trevor Sutton, signifies a significant step toward fostering and enabling an inclusive and equitable healthcare environment for all.
Empowering Change: IAA’s Mission of Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
IAA’s DEI principles are founded on strategic imperatives reinforcing our mission of providing high-quality patient care and physician leadership. By integrating DEI into our anesthesia practice throughout the organization, we aim to enhance IAA’s commitment to excellence regarding professional development, patient care, and meaningful engagement with patient communities, clients, and business partners.
Meet Our DEI Leadership Committee
Integrated Anesthesia Associates is thrilled to introduce the esteemed members of IAA’s DEI Physician Leadership Committee.
These exceptional individuals,
- Dr. Trevor Sutton-MD, MBA, CPE
- Dr. Sheila Elliott- DO
- Dr. Sriharsha D. Subramanya-MD, FRCA
- Dr. David Maduram-MD, PhD, and
- Dr. Divya Sundarapandiyan-MD
bring their unwavering commitment and invaluable expertise to the forefront of our DEI initiatives.
Each committee member understands that diversity, equity, and inclusion is not only a social imperative but also a critical driver of quality patient care. As a key driver of change, this designated group of physicians is spreading the message that DEI enhances the doctor-patient relationship, which lies at the heart of effective healthcare delivery. Together, they are facilitating change through direct action.
IAA’s Four Pillars of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
IAA’s DEI committee has outlined four distinct pillars of DEI upon which the foundation of our DEI efforts and actions are formed.
- Community Engagement:
We recognize the importance of engaging with our diverse community to foster a deeper understanding of sociocultural and economic aspects that influence patient experiences. By actively involving the community, we can provide personalized care, foster cultural competence among our team, bridge health disparities, and ensure equitable anesthesia care for all. - Research:
The fusion of research, quality improvement, and DEI in anesthesiology has transformative potential. We embrace diversity in research to stimulate innovation and enhance patient outcomes. Equity plays a crucial role in addressing disparities in perioperative medicine, and inclusion ensures that all patients’ voices and experiences are respected and considered. - Education:
Integrating DEI principles into medical education is vital to the evolution of patient care at IAA. Diversity in medical education stimulates innovation, while equity guarantees equal opportunities for learning and advancement. Inclusion creates a culture where every individual’s unique experiences are valued and respected, fostering a healthcare workforce prepared to deliver inclusive care. - Professional Development:
DEI in professional development ensures that our team members receive the necessary skills and knowledge to provide culturally competent care.
DEI Committee News and Initiatives
Community Engagement News:
IAA’s Youth Scholar Program Rolls Out in Hartford & Bridgeport
With the kickoff of the new DEI Committee at Integrated Anesthesia Associates comes the first exciting Community Engagement initiative, IAA’s Youth Scholars Program.
IAA’s Youth Scholars Program is designed to provide high school students from traditionally underprivileged communities in Connecticut with a comprehensive and immersive experience in anesthesiology. Through hands-on learning and direct IAA staff mentorship, this program will provide a window into the world of a possible career choice for students in the field of medicine and anesthesiology. The Youth Scholars Program curriculum has been designed to educate young individuals and promote inclusivity and respect for diversity within the community.
The Youth Scholars Program spans an intensive week, offering a range of activities and learning opportunities. It is a cornerstone of IAA’s DEI mission, emphasizing the importance of community engagement. The program specifically targets rising junior or senior high school students attending partner public high schools in Bridgeport and Hartford. Currently, it accommodates 3-5 students at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT, and Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT. This unique and invaluable experience provides them with firsthand exposure to the field of anesthesiology.
By engaging with the community this way, IAA aims to educate and motivate students to consider medicine and anesthesiology as potential future career choices. IAA is proud to facilitate this ongoing community engagement initiative and is confident that our contribution to the diversification of the anesthesiology profession will go far in fostering a more inclusive and representative healthcare workforce in medicine.
Visit Iaapartners.com to learn more about the Youth Scholars Program from Integrated Anesthesia Associates, the IAA DEI Committee, and the four pillars of DEI.
Photo left: IAA’s COO, Joseph Vitarelli, and Administrative staff, Linda Caraballo, recently visited our partner school locations in Bridgeport and Hartford to meet with students and potential participants of the inaugural Youth Scholars Program. Together, the two IAA representatives formally presented and discussed the Youth Scholars Program with very excited groups of students. They also reviewed the program and the collaborative nature of the initiative with the faculty, who were equally enthusiastic about this new, innovative opportunity.
DEI Research News:
Dr. Trevor Sutton, Mentorship Grant Recipient, was recently featured in the May 2023 edition of the ASA Monitor.
Dr. Sutton stated, “We are thrilled to be recipients of the 2022 ASA Mentoring Grant. This grant supports our research efforts to complete a study in an adult primary care clinic at Hartford Hospital. Our objective is to determine if physicians and patient questionnaires can be utilized to evaluate patient care trajectories that lead to physician inertia in referring patients to cardiovascular special offers for cardiovascular specialty care.”
Continue reading the full article published in the ASA Monitor, and read additional quotes from Dr. Stutton: ASA Mentoring Program Opens Doors for Cutting-Edige Research on Health Equity in Cardiovascular Anesthesia.
DEI Education News:
IAA Supports Innovation in DEI Education to Graduate Medical Students
As university-affiliated clinical faculty, hospital staff members, and leaders in organized medical societies, IAA members contribute to medical education.
As one component of IAA’s broad engagement in medical education, IAA members support innovation in DEI education for postgraduate medical trainees. One example is engagement in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Track at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
This is a two-year extra-curricular learning track offered through a partnership between the Graduate Medical Education Office and the Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
The aim is for learners to develop cross-continuum competencies in DEI that will bolster their professional development and prepare them to pursue career pathways focused on DEI leadership in medicine.
Deepen Your Understanding and Explore Further
The launch of IAA’s DEI Program signifies our mission to provide exceptional patient care and cultivate a diverse, equitable, and inclusive healthcare environment. We are excited about the positive impact that this program will have on our patients, staff, and the broader healthcare landscape and are proud of our committee’s leadership, strengths, and commitment to this cause.
If you’d like to learn more about the transformative power of diversity and how it can drive innovation and success, we encourage you to click in and explore IAA’s DEI program. Together, we’re taking proactive steps toward a brighter, more inclusive future.
