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Thanks to @minoritygenetic and @GeneticCouns for setting up a meeting to discuss the Exeter DEI report that was just released this week. Here are some highlights from the meeting #GCChat https://twitter.com/GeneticCouns/status/1387519515571982338
NSGC President @GenomeGrl acknowledges that this is a necessary process and that trust must be built over time. @GeneticCouns encourages all (NSGC members or not) to give feedback. Acknowledges info in the report may be triggering and deserves thoughtful review.
2016-2020 member data quantitatively reviewed. Of 4,435 NSGC members, 14.02% responded to the DEI survey. NSGC Staff: 85.71%. 15 Stakeholder interviews, 25 focus groups, 63 documents reviewed, benchmarked against Am Med Assoc, Nat Assoc Social Workers, Starbucks.
2016-2020: Board of Directors 85% white, 5% South Asian, 5% Hispanic. Committee chairs: 94.59% white, 5.41% East Asian. (I got a pt call at this point in the meeting, missed the member survey demographics but it's in the report)
DEI Index in report is especially useful for comparing scores between groups. NSGC average index percentage was highest for "DEI Familiarity", lowest for "Organizational Commitment." Underrepresented demographic groups more likely to report lower-than-average scores.
74-85% is average DEI score in other healthcare Associations who have done the same Exeter assessment. NSGC's was 72.08% (worse DEI score than comparators).
5 broad themes emerged: 1) Need for action, 2) Need to confront stereotyped image of GC, 3) Need to diversify field of GC, 4) Need to recognize/value multiple diversities, 5) Need to continue DEI efforts.
Themes from 15 stakeholder interviews included need for: 1) Action 2) Greater diversity 3) Expanded recruitment 4) Inclusivity, not just diversity 5) Greater availability of resources 5) increased communication and transparency
9 themes from 25 focus groups: 1) work, commitment, funding needed for nascent DEI initiatives 2) DEI strategic action plan development 3) Need for diversity in field and pipeline development 4) Pressure to fit the mold 5) Need for diversity in leadership/pipeline development...
.....6) Hurtful experiences/exclusionary behavior, 7) Accessible and inclusive conference and events, 8) Training and required DEI CEUs, 9) Continued communication and direction around DEI
7 themes re: opportunities arose: 1) Take action over talk 2) Develop DEI metrics and communications 3) Increase diversity within leadership 4) Address barrier to entry 5) Promote celebration over tolerance...
...6) Provide DEI training and resources 7) Increase accessibility to Annual Conference (AC) and website
47 recommendations made by Exeter. Immediate recomms: 1) Establish DEI Taskforce, 2) Develop organization-wide definitions of DEI, 3) Develop DEI strategic action plan, 4) Communicate DEI strategic action plan, 5) Identify paid DEI Program Lead 6) Invest in pipeline development
Action has been initiated and budgetary planning has already begun to address these immediate recommendations as well as the 47 total recommendations, but @GenomeGrl notes that feedback is also requested as the action gets underway
6-week comment period has begun. Deepti Babu encourages submitting comments, encouraging others to engage with report. https://www.nsgc.org/JEDI is publicly-available link to report/comment submission form. Link not restricted to NSGC members; students/non-GCs welcome for example
Incoming NSGC president @HeatherZierhut notes: comment period open April 28-June 9. Holding calls with key groups: Committee Chairs, SIG leaders, organization partners (ABGC, ACGC, ACMG, AGCPD, ASHG, MPGN, CAGC etc)
Timeline: 6/9-7/1/2021: J.E.D.I. committee, Membership Committee, Board and staff review indiv/organizational feedback to categorize/summarize and respond to comments. 7/1-8/31: J.E.D.I. Action Plan development. 7/13-15: NSGC Board strategic planning meeting.
Mid-September (prior to AC): final draft of strategic plan/J.E.D.I. action plan presented to Board. Prior to AC: release prelim NSGC strategic plan and J.E.D.I. action plan info. AC: discussion during State of Society. Rest of 2021: ongoing calls, forums, continued comms
