SSAT Statements

SSAT Statement on Solidarity for the Recent Asian Hate Crime Events

The SSAT stands with the Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities against the inexcusable and unacceptable acts of anti-Asian violence in the United States, which have now culminated in the murder of eight Americans, six being Asian-American. The tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic has been amplified by the racist misinformation perpetuated regarding the origins of the virus. Words matter, leadership matters, lives matter.

We stand against racism, bigotry, or discrimination of any kind.

As allies against injustice, we must denounce harassment and hostility against the Asian American community, examine our own unconscious biases, and be involved: raise awareness; amplify the voices of Asians as well as other underrepresented minorities; call out relatives, friends, and online acts of racism and xenophobia; and be allies with surgical societies and organizations that are working towards greater diversity and inclusion in surgery, including Society of Asian Academic Surgeons (SAAS), the Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS), the Latino Surgical Society (LSS), Association of Women Surgeons (AWS), and the Association of Out Surgeons and Allies (AOSA). There are Asian and underrepresented minorities in our midst, including medical students, trainees, colleagues, and members of our communities. We must engage and learn of their struggles in order to advocate on their behalf.

The SSAT celebrates the diversity of our community, our shared humanity, and advocates for social justice. The Society specifically denounces bigotry, intolerance and violence. The SSAT stands in solidarity against racism and is committed to equality in healthcare to reduce disparities. As leaders within our local communities we must join together to promote justice through our words and actions to build a brighter and better future.

"Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly." Mahatma Gandhi

SSAT Statement on Solidarity

The SSAT acknowledges that cascading events over the last several months are anguishing, and make us wonder what is next for our country. A pandemic followed by economic hardship and profound cruelty against a Black man challenges our sense of moral certainty and emotional well-being. George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and untold other African Americans have suffered the ultimate price because of their race. Systemic racism and the targeting of any minority are an affront to our collective moral fiber and should challenge us to get involved, make a difference, lend a helping hand.

The SSAT celebrates the diversity of our community, our shared humanity, and advocates for social justice. The Society specifically denounces bigotry, intolerance and violence. The SSAT stands in solidarity against racism and is committed to equality in healthcare to reduce disparities. As leaders within our local communities we must join together to promote justice through our words and actions to build a brighter and better future.

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.

The SSAT opposes legislation prohibiting MOC. The Society sees board certification as an important component of surgeons meeting higher standards of quality surgical care, and supports educational activities to assist surgeons in their continuous certification efforts.
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The SSAT is committed to providing a safe environment for all its employees free from discrimination and any form of harassment at work including sexual harassment.
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