UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Assistant Professor Sasha Still, M.D., discusses the Access & Engagement group and her participation in the "Exploring Social Determinants in Surgery" webinar.
Can you share more about your participation in the “Exploring Social Determinants in Surgery” research webinar?
The “Exploring Social Determinants in Surgery” was done in conjunction with the nationally recognized Socially Responsible Surgery (SRS) group. This platform supports research and educational efforts addressing equal access to surgical care, eliminating healthcare disparities, and increasing patient advocacy. I participated in the webinar and presented my research, which investigates how disparities affect postoperative outcomes following emergency surgery for acute type A dissection repair.
Can you tell us more about your interest in the Socially Responsible Surgery (SRS) group?
Socially responsible surgery, namely thoughtful consideration of a patient’s lack of access and prioritization of the human patient above bureaucratic and economic limitations, is part of a surgeon’s moral code.
Surgeons live to perform surgery, that is, treat people with operations. Dedication and sacrifice to our passion powers the concept of surgical justice or equity in this field. We aim to fix people regardless of age, race, gender, or financial status. This is particularly true in emergency surgery settings. Acute surgical conditions force health equity by demanding urgent repair.
In fact, we found that among patients who underwent type A aortic dissection repair, socioeconomic status was not associated with worse short and intermediate-term survival. Very few studies have demonstrated this applied to other non-emergent conditions.
How do you decompress after a long workday?
I love spending time outdoors with my family, whether on a lake or in the mountains. We enjoy hiking, fishing, gardening, and any opportunity to be in the sun. It's a great way to unwind.
Can you share your main research interests?
I run multiple databases and projects that focus on aortic disease, valvular disease, and high-risk coronary disease. I enjoy investigating our surgical community. A thorough understanding of our local population allows for identifying healthcare disparities, which may improve outcomes through patient education and system-based protocols. I also love big surgical cases and surgical emergencies. I frequently publish rare, interesting case reports.
What has been your role in the Access & Engagement group?
I am a member of the A&E committee and on the community engagement subcommittee. It is important to increase representation at UAB and find ways to understand our community better.
Next Steps & Resources
To learn more about Dr. Sasha Still's work, explore her profile on UAB's website.
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