Dr. Seun Adetayo, renowned plastic surgeon, author, and inspiring speaker, urges action to recognize and promote qualified minorities in the healthcare field in order to adequately prepare to care for the ever-growing diverse population.  

OMAHA, NE – October 07, 2020 – Dr. Seun Adetayo, renowned plastic surgeon, author, and inspiring speaker, has posted a new article on her website entitled, “Advancing Diversity In Healthcare Is Critical To Prepare For A 50% Diverse Population By 2050.” Dr. Adetayo, perhaps in a tribute to the recently passed Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader, begins her article with a relevant quote.  “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Dr. Adetayo states, “2050 sounds far away, but that is only 30 years from now!” She adds, “The United States is already a culturally diverse society. It is one of the beautiful things about our great country. However, while strides are being made, our current healthcare system is still far from adequately reflecting the diversity of population it treats, and as a consequence the healthcare needs of many Americans are not being met.”

Dr. Adetayo offers some eye-opening statistics. She writes, “According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), only 36% of doctors are women of any race, and only 5% of all active physicians are Black, compared with the 13% of the U.S.  population that is Black. The numbers are worse, for physicians who are Hispanic or Latinx: Only 5.8% of doctors are Hispanic, according to the AAMC, compared with 18% of the overall U.S. population; only 2.4% of active physicians are Hispanic women (https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/workforce/interactive-data/figure-19-percentage-physicians-sex-2018).” According to Dr. Adetayo, “While there have been incremental advancements, it seems now is the time for bigger strides. To improve the healthcare landscape of the future, we need to work on changes today.”

By the year 2050 it is projected that 50% of the population of the United States will be ethnically diverse “minorities.” Dr. Adetayo notes that, “Unless we step up efforts to actively recognize and promote qualified minorities in the healthcare field, we will not be adequately prepared to provide healthcare for the diverse population.” She emphasizes, “I am not advocating that we advance diversity merely for the sake of diversity, but rather, that we attract, retain, and promote skilled diverse individuals to treat our current and future diverse patient population,” because, as she notes, “Better population health leads to better overall health in the nation.”

 

The entire article can be read at: http://seunadetayo.com/2020/10/05/advancing-diversity-in-healthcare-is-critical-to-prepare-for-a-50-diverse-population-by-2050/

 

About Dr. Adetayo

Dr. Seun Adetayo currently practices in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a board-certified Plastic Surgeon and a Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  She is a Professor of Surgery, and Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Adetayo is unique in her field. As a gifted surgeon operating in a competitive field, Dr. Adetayo is also the first foreign-born (Nigerian) female minority surgeon to have built a successful nationally accredited multidisciplinary program for children with birth defects in Northeastern New York. She continued in this trajectory of helping patients and families as she now heads the Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery where she serves as the Chief at the Children’s Hospital.  Her journey has been dedicated to caring for patients and their families; mentorship for students, residents, and faculty; advocacy for legislation at local and national level; research; education; and community engagement and leadership. She shares her journey and strategies for success via her print material, meeting panels, blogs, and speaking engagements.

Dr Adetayo has authored several book chapters in leading texts, including the second edition of Comprehensive Cleft Care which is an authoritative text volume on cleft and craniofacial disorders and treatment.  She also authored a chapter in the Family Companion Guide for educating patients and families with cleft and craniofacial diagnoses. She was also the author of the chapter on treatment of zygoma fractures in the text Operative Techniques in Plastic Surgery.

She has received over 40 awards and recognition, and her work has resulted in over 50 published works and over 60 presented works at regional, national, and international meetings. She is published in peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal, Annals of Plastic Surgery, Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, and Journal of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics.

Dr Adetayo plays an important role in mentoring and education in surgery, healthcare, and professional circles. She served as an invited surgeon and surgical educator during her last mission trip to Zimbabwe, where she served as the lead surgeon and guest lecturer for various hands-on plastic surgical reconstructions and teaching sessions. She is active in Women In Leadership lectures and advocacy. She served as a speaker for the Synthes collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Company on Improving Cultural Competence and Ethnic Diversity in Healthcare, and was one of four selected panelist speakers on Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery International Program by L’Oreal in conjunction with Resurge International. She was an invited speaker at the 2019 Healthcare Finance Management Association (HFMA) annual Women In Leadership Conference in upstate New York. In January 2020, she served as the Keynote Speaker for the Stryker Women’s Network National Conference National Women in Surgery and Leadership event in California.

Dr. Adetayo has served in various community leadership positions including Chairperson of the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Co-President of the Phi Delta Epsilon Premedical Society, Co-President of the Pritzker REMEDY Cuba Medical Aid Mission, Coordinator of the Chicago Local Chapter of the Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) program for inner city Chicago school kids. She currently serves as Managing Editor and Co-Chair of the Learning Resource Committee of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA).

She has been involved in various medical education and surgical trips to several countries including Cuba, Haiti, Nigeria, Peru, and Zimbabwe as educator and surgeon.  She was awarded a Diploma of Honor conferred by the President of the Congress of the Republic of Peru.  She collaborates on meaningful initiatives with various international organizations including Rotary International and The Smile Train on improving surgical outcomes, healthcare delivery, patient safety, and quality control standards in surgical reconstruction. She continues to be active in  advocacy and philanthropic efforts in developing children and advancing communities.

 

 

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