Medical College of Georgia

Diversity and Sustainability

Within the mission of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine is the desire to have a diverse faculty and residency through whom we can better care for our patients. We are also committed to sustainability in the operating room and beyond.

Diversity is an overarching concept that covers equity, inclusion, and improves wellness and resilience of healthcare professionals. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Diversity relates to the ways that people are different, and includes race and ethnicity, age, language, religion, mental and physical abilities, and gender and gender identity, 

Equity refers to fair treatment, access, equality of opportunity and advancement. It also refers to the removing of barriers that prevent some groups from fully participating.

Inclusion is about welcoming every person or group to participate.

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Recent Projects

  • In the 2020 study by Drs Dat Phat Vu (mentee) and Mary Arthur (mentor), funded by the  American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Committee on Professional Diversity, surveyed health care workers and students to determine "The Impact of COVID-19 on Shifting Attitudes Towards Asian Patients and Healthcare Providers."
  • Drs Jasmeen Kaur (mentee) and Mary Arthur (mentor) along with medical student Sydney Greenlaw developed a training video to better equip residents, faculty, and medical students to communicate with patients during the preoperative visit as part of their 2021 ASA-funded study, "Equipping Anesthesia Providers in the Time-limited Preoperative Interview to More Effectively Evaluate Patients Through a Lens of Cultural Competency."
  • Dr Caryl Bailey held a simulation workshop for her 2021 ASA-funded study, "Building Medical Student Interest in the Anesthesia Specialty Among Women and People of Color Utilizing Early Introduction and Simulation."
  • Drs Dhruti Diwan, Krishna Shah (mentees) and Mary Arthur (mentor) conducted a Teen Health Camp with the goal of "Sparking an Early Interest in Healthcare to Address the Racial and Ethnic Discordance between Patients and Healthcare Professionals" for their 2022 ASA-funded study. 
  • Drs Zulqar Islam and Ulrica Tull were among the first class of Junior Resident Scholars of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists in 2023. Dr Mary Arthur's article on the Junior Resident Scholar Grant is in the SCA News.

Committee Members

Faculty: Drs Mary Arthur and Sheryl Ang; Residents: Dr Ulrica Tull; Staff: Nadine Odo 

Sustainability

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Operating Room Fast Facts

  • The operating room is typically the largest generator of waste (20-33% of facility total) and largest generator of regulated medical waste.
  • It is also one of the most energy-intensive departments within a hospital.
  • Almost 80% of packaging waste from procedures is generated before the patient enters the OR.
  • To practice low flow anesthesia
    • Turn off the FLOW, NOT the vaporizer, during intubation
    • Keep total flow <1 LPM during the maintenance phase of anesthesia
    • Use high fresh gas flow (<1 min ventilation) for rapid change in anesthetic depth
    • Monitor end-tidal oxygen and  inhalational anesthesia concentration for safety

Committee Members

Faculty: Drs Ankit Jain, Efrain Riveros-Perez, Nicolas Avila, Sebastian Murillo, Akbar Herekar, Stevin Dubin, Sheryl Ang; APPs: Nadia Lee, Megan Mueller