Endoscopy 2024; 56(11): 870-881
DOI: 10.1055/a-2399-3226
Position Statement

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in gastrointestinal endoscopy: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Position Statement

 1   Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
 2   Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)
 3   Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salud, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
,
Alanna Ebigbo
 4   Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
,
Yasmijn J. van Herwaarden
 5   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
,
 6   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Ioannis S. Papanikolaou
 7   Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine–Propaedeutic, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Athens, Greece
,
 8   Endoscopy Unit, Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration Szczecin, Poland
,
 9   Gastroenterology Department, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
10   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
,
11   National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute. Cairo, Egypt
,
Asma Alkandari
12   Department of Gastroenterology, Al Jahra Hospital, Kuwait
,
Isis K. Araujo
 1   Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
Bidour Awadelkarim
13   HPB Medicine, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
,
Fabiana Benjaminov
14   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Meir Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel
,
Maria García Campos
15   Department of Gastroenterology, University and Polytechnic La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain
,
Sridhar Sundaram
16   Department of Gastroenterology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
,
 7   Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine–Propaedeutic, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Athens, Greece
17   Second Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
,
Andreea Vlad
18   Bihor County Emergency Clinical Hospital, University of Oradea, Romania
,
Marianna Arvanitakis
19   Department of Gastroenterology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
,
20   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, and TARGID, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Cesare Hassan
21   Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
22   Endoscopy Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center–IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
,
Helmut Messmann
 4   Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
,
Ian M. Gralnek
23   Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
24   Rappaport Family Faculty of Medicine Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
› Author Affiliations

Statements

1 The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) adheres to the overarching principles of equality of opportunity, fair treatment, nondiscrimination, and diversity of health care professionals.

2 ESGE strongly supports the creation of collaborations within and between national and international endoscopy societies to disseminate the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy.

3 ESGE aims to reflect the diversity of its membership in all its scientific and educational activities.

4 ESGE supports the fostering of collaborative work settings that empower all members of the endoscopy team to reach their full potential.

5 ESGE supports international and national endoscopy societies in promoting equitable access to high quality endoscopy training.

6 ESGE recommends the implementation of ergonomic principles in endoscopy units to prevent injuries and to provide adapted workplace conditions for personnel with disabilities and/or special needs.

7 ESGE recommends comprehensive mentorship, that includes diverse backgrounds, and equitable sponsorship for professional development, training, and academic excellence.

8 ESGE recommends that endoscopists actively identify, discuss, and attempt to accommodate reasonable patient preferences and expectations regarding endoscopy procedures.

9 ESGE advocates for educational and awareness campaigns targeting both health care professionals and patients, as well as the adoption of cost-effective health care strategies to address disparities and enhance equity in endoscopy care.

10 ESGE is committed to increasing support for underrepresented scholars and minorities pursuing research in endoscopy.

11 ESGE identifies mentorship and sponsorship as factors that may mitigate the barriers to academic careers for underrepresented endoscopy scholars.

12 ESGE recognizes the need to increase awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of endoscopy and supports publications on these topics.

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
25 September 2024

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