It’s been more than 18 months since the Journal of Vascular Surgery (JVS) implemented changes aimed in part at diversifying involvement with the publication and addressing how papers on social determinants of health are written and reviewed. Part of that process was the recruitment of a diversity editor.
With more than a year under her belt in the role, Ulka Sachdev-Ost, MD, sat down with Vascular Specialist for a video interview during which she outlined milestones reached and how the journey has evolved so far. Sachdev-Ost talked through opportunities with the journal, highlighting in particular a new internship program that allows vascular trainees to get reviewing experience. In addition, she noted the importance of accountability on the part of both authors and editorial staff to consider whether papers speak to any social determinants of health as they pertain to vascular surgery.
The diversity editor also had some tips for authors looking to write and report better academic papers in the arena of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and healthcare disparities for publication in JVS and beyond. Despite Sachdev-Ost’s belief that the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has been responsive to a call to “be more curious” about diversity issues in vascular surgery as a whole over the last 18 months, she stressed that there is still room for improvement. “There’s a lot of work to do,” she said.
