Career Catalyst Series: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Reproductive Medicine

On Friday, April 7th, the CRS community had the privilege of hosting Wildcat alumni, and reproductive science and medicine trailblazer, Dr. Michael A. Thomas, MD. Dr. Thomas’ extensive accomplishments and contributions to the field, including holding the title as the first African American Department Chair of Clinical Program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). ASRM, made him the perfect candidate to speak to our community in his lecture Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Thomas did a phenomenal job of educating our community on the health disparities and obstacles women, especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) women, face when seeking reproductive care: communication differences, cultural stigmas, medical mistrust, and economic barriers. He further contextualized the impact of the social determinants of health by providing evidence-based examples. For instance, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) database revealed African American women undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) procedures alone were at higher risk of tubal factor infertility, uterine factor infertility, diminished ovarian reserves, and are referred to Reproductive Endocrinologists at a much lower rate due to implicit and explicit biases.

Following the educational portion, Dr. Thomas inspired the CRS community by modeling the ability to identify health disparities and how to make change through reform by informing us of the work ASRM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force has implemented:

• Charge I: Enhancing opportunities to increase and support diversity and equity, and the inclusion of underrepresented minority populations in the profession and leadership of reproductive medicine.
• Charge II: Reducing and eventually eliminating health disparities in access and outcomes to reproductive care.

As we have seen before, reform acts as a catalyst and the accomplishments of the DEI Task Force inspired similar interventions in other organizations and universities.

Thanks to Dr. Michael Thomas, our community walked away from the lecture feelings more educated on the health disparities BIPOC women face in reproductive care and the change the ASRM DEI Task Force is implementing, while feeling inspired to be the catalysts for more change. CRS is honored to have hosted our fellow Wildcat Dr. Michael Thomas and are eager to continue watching the waves he creates and to follow in his footsteps.