The surgeon -rationalist- change agent: Stepping into our calling

As a profession Surgeons are the ultimate thinkers and rationalists. Historically, we have evolved our technique and the quality of the care we deliver through evaluation of our results and the challenge to effect change to improve our patient outcomes. This same discipline and rigor should be brought to the issue of disparities in surgical outcomes. We now understand that in addition to insurance, access and social determinants of health that implicit bias plays a significant role in disparate patient outcomes. Bias is human nature. We all have biases that can be managed and will lead us to provide better care. It is the responsibility of surgeons individually and collectively to be our best selves as persons and professionals. We should be at the cutting edge of the substantive change needed in medicine and our greater society.