Education Committee Self Nomination for Briana Burris

This statement was carefully prepared to communicate my genuine interest in applying for a committee position within the Association for Academic Surgery. At a time when our society is challenged by individuals and organizations that oppose the mission of inclusion and equity; the efforts and initiatives completed by AAS are critical in shaping the culture and future of healthcare in the United States. I am grateful that AAS continues to prioritize initiatives that foster connectedness, inclusion, and equity. I envision myself helping to lead the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion committee, by taking a more active role as a committee member. As an early career black female surgeon, I am confident that I can contribute enthusiasm and devote attention to organizing efforts for the DEI committee and advocating for others who are similarly underrepresented in medicine.

As a committee member, I envision making an impact by collaborating closely with the other leaders of the committees, to plan and execute events to increase engagement, representation, and foster inclusive excellence. I have a personal interest in future efforts towards retention and recruitment of faculty, as we identified this as a potential area of improvement. I would love to utilize resources to execute a sustainable action plan to: 1) Create new videos for AAS to highlight and recognize the strong, equitable company culture of AAS 2) Shift our focus from retention to recruitment, as registration of new members, mentorship, and development talent from diverse populations will undoubtedly result in more connected underrepresented AAS members.

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