Recommendations to the Society for Epidemiologic Research for Further Promoting Diversity and Inclusion at the Annual Meeting and Beyond

Abstract Increasing diverse engagement in the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) will positively impact the field of epidemiology. As the largest and longest-running epidemiologic society in North America, SER has long been a pioneer in promoting diversity and inclusion. A recent survey of SER members, however, showed there is still room for improving diversity, inclusion, representation, and participation in the Society. In this commentary, as members of both the SER and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Science (Epi IDEAS) Working Group, we recommend 4 goals for the SER Annual Meeting and beyond: 1) convene epidemiologic researchers with diverse backgrounds and ideas; 2) promote an inclusive environment at the SER Annual Meeting; 3) develop, compile, and disseminate best practices to honor diversity in epidemiologic research; and 4) increase prioritization of health disparities research and methods. We also suggest strategies for achieving these goals so that SER can better include, support, and elevate members from historically disadvantaged groups. While our recommendations are tailored specifically to SER, the greater epidemiologic and academic communities could benefit from adopting these goals and strategies within their professional societies and conferences.

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The Society for Epidemiologic Research and the Future of Diversity and Inclusion in Epidemiology

American Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/aje/kwaa109 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 189 (10) ◽

pp. 1049-1052 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stephen E Gilman ◽

Onyebuchi A Arah ◽

Lisa M Bates ◽

Charles C Branas ◽

Yvette C Cozier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Epidemiologic Research ◽

Diversity And Inclusion ◽

Diverse Backgrounds ◽

The Future

Abstract “The mission of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee (D&I) in the Society for Epidemiologic Research is to foster the diversity of our membership and work towards the engagement of all members, from diverse backgrounds at all stages of their careers, in the Society’s activities, with the intent of enhancing discovery in public health.” As a foundational step in implementing our mission, the D&I Committee conducted a survey of SER membership. Here we report on the efforts we have undertaken to expand the diversity and inclusiveness of our Society and our aspirations for future efforts in support of D&I. Early on, we established the SERvisits program to conduct outreach to institutions and students that have historically been underrepresented at SER; we hope this program continues to grow in its reach and impact. We have also taken steps to increase the inclusiveness of SER activities, for example, by engaging members on issues of D&I through symposia and workshops at SER annual meetings and through social media. DeVilbiss et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2020;189(10):998–1010) have demonstrated that there is substantial room for improvement with regards to diversity and inclusion within SER. We invite SER members to become involved and collaborate on this long-term goal.

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You’re From … Where, Again? A Critical Assessment of Institutional Diversity in the Society for Epidemiologic Research

American Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/aje/kwaa106 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 189 (10) ◽

pp. 1026-1029 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marit L Bovbjerg ◽

Dawn Misra ◽

Jonathan M Snowden

Keyword(s):

Annual Meeting ◽

Critical Assessment ◽

Institutional Diversity ◽

Epidemiologic Research ◽

Diversity And Inclusion ◽

Disproportionate Number ◽

Equity And Inclusion

Abstract The Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) has recently taken laudable steps toward increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the society, including participation in the annual meeting. In this essay, we argue that there is one critical piece of the diversity and inclusion equation that is, however, overlooked: institution. At the 2019 Annual Meeting, a mere 8 institutions accounted for a disproportionate number of both oral concurrent sessions and symposium speakers. This lack of institutional diversity, unless addressed, will hinder SER’s ability to address other aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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Beyond Diversity: Focusing on and Enhancing Inclusion in the Society for Epidemiologic Research

American Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/aje/kwaa111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 189 (10) ◽

pp. 1042-1046 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kristin J Moore ◽

Serena Xiong ◽

Manami Bhattacharya ◽

Gabriela Bustamante ◽

Collin Calvert

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Model ◽

Baseline Data ◽

Epidemiologic Research ◽

Organizational Membership ◽

Professional Societies ◽

Diversity And Inclusion ◽

Prior Literature ◽

Limited Generalizability

Abstract Increasing diversity and inclusion among organizational membership has become a focus for many professional societies, including the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER). In this issue of the Journal, DeVilbiss et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2020:189(10):998–1010) assessed dimensions of diversity and inclusion within SER to provide baseline data for future evaluations of Society initiatives. In our response, we note that diversity in SER appears strong but there is lag with regard to inclusion. We also highlight some of the major weaknesses of this study that hinder efforts to accurately evaluate inclusion within SER. There is a need to more concretely define inclusion and think broadly about how measures of inclusion should be operationalized in future surveys. Additional limitations of the study include its limited generalizability to the wider SER membership and the lack of questions about barriers to inclusion in SER activities. We conclude with recommendations for SER and other professional societies based on prior literature evaluating successful diversity and inclusion efforts. We also propose a conceptual model to assist with operationalizing and directing future analyses of inclusion measures. It is essential that SER move beyond efforts around diversity to focus on measuring and enhancing inclusion.

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Körperliche Beschwerden bei älteren Migranten in Deutschland 1Erstellt unter Mitwirkung der Arbeitsgruppe «Abuse of the Elderly in the European Region» (ABUEL): Joaquim F. J. Soares, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Francisco Torres-González, Departmental Section of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University of Granada, Spain; Elisabeth Ioannidi-Kapolou, National School of Public Health, Department of Sociology, Athens, Greece; Giovanni Lamura, Italian National Research Centre on Ageing Department of Gerontological Research, Unit of Health Economics, Ancona, Italy; Mindaugas Stankunas, Kaunas University of Medicine, Department of Health Management, A. Mickeviciaus, Kaunas, Lithuania; Henrique Barros, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal.

Zeitschrift für Psychiatrie Psychologie und Psychotherapie ◽

10.1024/1661-4747.a000028 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 199-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rosina-Martha Csöff ◽

Gloria Macassa ◽

Jutta Lindert

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Management ◽

The Elderly ◽

Health Department ◽

Research Unit ◽

Research Centre ◽

Public Health Department ◽

Karolinska Institute ◽

Psychological Medicine ◽

Körperliche Beschwerden

Körperliche Beschwerden sind bei Älteren weit verbreitet; diese sind bei Migranten bislang in Deutschland und international noch wenig untersucht. Unsere multizentrische Querschnittstudie erfasste körperliche Beschwerden bei Menschen im Alter zwischen 60 und 84 Jahren mit Wohnsitz in Stuttgart anhand der Kurzversion des Gießener Beschwerdebogens (GBB-24). In Deutschland wurden 648 Personen untersucht, davon 13.4 % (n = 87) nicht in Deutschland geborene. Die Geschlechterverteilung war bei Migranten und Nichtmigranten gleich; der sozioökonomische Status lag bei den Migranten etwas niedriger: 8.0 % (n = 7) der Migranten und 2.5 % (n = 14) der Nichtmigranten verfügten über höchstens vier Jahre Schulbildung; 12.6 % (n = 11) der Migranten und 8.2 % (n = 46) der Nichtmigranten hatten ein monatliches Haushaltsnettoeinkommen von unter 1000€; 26.4 % der Migranten und 38.1 % (n = 214) der Nichtmigranten verfügten über mehr als 2000€ monatlich. Somatische Beschwerden lagen bei den Migranten bei 65.5 % (n = 57) und bei den Nichtmigranten bei 55.8 % (n = 313). Frauen wiesen häufiger somatische Beschwerden auf (61.8 %) als Männer (51.8 %). Mit steigendem Alter nahmen somatische Beschwerden zu. Mit Ausnahme der Altersgruppe der 70–74-Jährigen konnte kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen Migranten und Nichtmigranten hinsichtlich der Häufigkeit körperlicher Beschwerden gezeigt werden. Ausblick: Es werden dringend bevölkerungsrepräsentative Studien zu körperlichen Beschwerden bei Migranten benötigt.

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