How Do You Fix Diversity Within Orthopaedic Surgery? Change One’s “Matter World”
ArthroscSports Med Rehabil. 2023 May 27;5(4):100737. doi: 10.1016/j.asmr.2023.04.020.PMID: 37645403; PMCID: PMC10461141.
Scott Porter, MD
JFOS 2024 Matched Interns in scrubs by
Just Cause Apparel
Scott Porter, MD, is a JRGOS Board Member, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of South Carolina, and Chief of Orthopaedic Oncology at Prisma Health. He is the former Program Director at Prisma Health and currently serves as the Vice Chair of Operations for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Porter founded “Just Cause Apparel”, a socially conscious medical apparel company.
Addressing diversity on an individual level involves understanding the intersection between our “matter worlds”—the aspects of life that hold the most significance to us—and our “control worlds,” where we have the power to make an impact.
In the article How Do You Fix Diversity Within Orthopaedic Surgery? Change One’s “Matter World”, Dr. Porter emphasizes the importance of self-reflection as a foundational step toward addressing diversity issues within our profession. Rather than focusing solely on broad societal solutions, Dr. Porter proposes that change begins at the individual level. This emphasis on self-reflection calls for individuals to look inward before pointing outward. This aligns with a broader understanding of diversity as an ongoing process of learning and unlearning, where personal actions can lead to collective improvements in representation and equity.
In these personal realms, there are things that matter more than others, and we exercise varying levels of control over them. Both our matter worlds and control worlds are shaped by a variety of factors, including our upbringing, socio-economic background, current environment, and even our aspirations. To make meaningful progress in increasing diversity within Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Porter believes that the key lies in shifting the priorities within the matter worlds of more people, particularly those with the greatest influence.
