UC Davis Health and its Department of Surgery hosted the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS) over the weekend. The sold-out event drew more than 300 academic surgeons to the health campus, including medical school deans, faculty, residents and medical students from across the nation.

“This was an important opportunity to highlight the work we are doing to reduce disparities in health care and show the increasing inclusivity and diversity of our faculty and student population,” said Diana Farmer, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at UC Davis.

Farmer and UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May opened Friday morning sessions at Betty Irene Moore Hall.

Health equity spotlight on UC Davis Health

Conference sessions focused on UC Davis Health’s efforts to achieve equity in cancer care, trauma management and holistic medical school admissions. Responsible surgery was also the theme of a presentation. Surgery department Chief Administrative Officer Racheal McGaha organized the conference.

General Thoracic Surgery Chief David Tom Cooke, interim physician-in-chief of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center was one of the co-chairs.

“UC Davis Health is proud to support the mission of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons and contribute to the growth and development of future surgical leaders,” said Cooke, who is also associate director of the cancer center’s Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEAL) Office.

Miquell Miller, assistant director of IDEAL and director of the cancer center’s Rectal Cancer Tumor Board, co-chaired the conference with Cooke.

“It is such an honor to host the annual meeting of the Society for Black Academic Surgeons,” Miller said. “We are proud of the inclusive scientific discovery underway at UC Davis Health and the commitment we are making toward reducing health disparities. The conference gives us a chance to share what we have learned and our hopes for the future.”

This was only the second time the Society for Black Academic Surgeons held its annual meeting in Northern California.

Nationally renowned Black surgeons discuss scientific discoveries and visit Sacramento

Dr. Luz María Rodríguez, president of SBAS and a distinguished surgical oncologist and colorectal surgeon at the National Institutes of Health, presided over the conference.

Conference-goers visited the State Capitol where they took a group photo. They also participated in networking opportunities with cancer center leadership and attended a reception at the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity hosted by UC President Michael V. Drake.

Many attendees participated in a scientific plenary and poster session. UC Davis Health researchers, meanwhile, shared new discoveries and data.

On the final day of the conference Sunday, UC Davis surgical trainees Tyler Carcamo and Elise Fannon invited attendees to help teach a simulation and education session for underrepresented local high school students. The mentoring session was intended to inspire the next generation of health care professionals.

History of Society of Black Academic Surgeons

Established in 1987, SBAS was founded to address the unique challenges faced by Black academic surgeons. It has since evolved into a dynamic and inclusive scientific forum for surgeons of all backgrounds. The mission of SBAS is to improve health outcomes, advance scientific research and foster the careers of African American and other underrepresented minority surgeons.