Temiloluwa Olufemi
Chair
Manisha Kumar Javaji
Member
Traditionally, diversity means including people of different backgrounds as an integral part of the workforce. Diversity, as we understand it today, should mean the varied perspectives and approaches to work that ALL individuals with different genders, races, ethnicities etc bring to the table.
The current turmoil in the world around the term “diversity and inclusivity” is an age-old battle well known to the field of orthopaedic surgery. Colloquially termed the “Old Boys’ Club” of the medical fraternity, orthopaedic surgery still has one of the lowest percentages of women amongst medical and surgical specialties.
Why then is gender, diversity and inclusion in Orthopaedics so important?
Studies across the globe have proved that diversity brings in better organisational effectiveness and adaptability using multiple perspectives, thereby enhancing productivity. In medicine, it’s been shown time and time again, that a more diverse department means we are better equipped to provide the best care for a broad range of our patients.
In this endeavour to increase awareness about diversity and overcome barriers to diversity in orthopaedics; the SICOT Gender, Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) Task Force was instituted in June 2025. The Task Force comes as an extension of the successful SICOT Women in Orthopaedics (WiO) blog that began 4 years ago.
The SICOT GDI Task Force is a step in the right direction and aligns with the SICOT philosophy of making orthopaedics accessible to all. The Task Force aims to foster an inclusive and diverse environment that ensures equal opportunities, representation, and respect for individuals of all genders, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds so as to advance innovation, collaboration and patient care in orthopaedics. The main mission is to identify and address the barriers in diversity and ensure advancement of underrepresented groups by advocating policies and practices that promote diversity and inclusivity within SICOT, thereby promoting a worldwide change.
Temiloluwa Olufemi (Nigeria) is the Inaugural Chair of the SICOT GDI Task Force. She leads a formidable team viz Aditya AGARWAL (India), Alba SHEHU (Switzerland), Catherine NYABUTO (Kenya), Chinyere ANIEBO (Nigeria), Derya AKBABA (Turkiye), Jaya LAL (United Kingdom), Manisha JAVAJI (India), Sonja CRONENBERG (Switzerland), Tatiana GUERSCHMAN (Brazil), Pratap GUPTA (India), Turkia EROUK (Libya).
Together, the team will employ a many-pronged approach in the promotion of diversity and inclusion within and outside of SICOT. Activities will include collaborative webinars and blogposts promoting diversity and inclusion at every stage of a surgeon’s career, an attempt to ‘catch them young’ using infographics and mentorship programs, fellowship training, diversity oriented awards and research.
The Task Force already hit the ground running with virtual meetings and strategy sessions that culminated in the successful hosting of the first-ever SICOT Women’s luncheon at the Madrid 2025 SICOT World Congress in September 2025.
The meeting started off with meet-and-greet games and the Orthopaedic Bingo was a crowd favourite as it promoted interactivity amongst participants. The occasion was graced by the SICOT President - Prof Vikas Khanduja and the Scientific Program Chair - Oliver Marin Pena. The SICOT GDI Task Force members were officially introduced to attendees and this was followed by an insightful Q & A session with the President.
As a wrap up, there was some time for sober reflection as ladies penned their hopes for the future of SICOT Women on a 10-year vision board. Responses were thought provoking with equal opportunities and leadership roles being recurrent themes.
One heartwarming and truly remarkable feature was the trans-generational nature of the luncheon. Medical students, residents and fellows, young and senior consultants including our SICOT Women pioneers - Patricia Fucs and Evalina Burger as well as IODA President Deborah Eastwood, were all in attendance! This provided the perfect avenue for networking, mentorship and bonding in a relaxed atmosphere. Indeed a time was had, and we already look forward to the luncheon at Kyoto 2026!!
Based on a stable trajectory, gender parity in orthopaedic surgery might not be achievable in a few centuries. The SICOT Gender, Diversity and Inclusivity Task Force looks forward to overwhelming support from our colleagues and allies worldwide in our endeavours to make SICOT and our workplaces diverse, equitable, colourful and inclusive in this lifetime.
