Department of Surgery Statement against Racism and Discrimination

The University of Kentucky Department of Surgery is committed to treat every individual with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate racism or discrimination in any form by faculty, residents, patients, families, or staff; whether it is in the form of an action, words, or attitudes. We do not tolerate harassment, subjugation, suppression, or discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, race, social-economic status, sex, creed, or religion. We affirm that every person has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Racism and discrimination are deeply rooted in our society. We recognize that Kentucky, as a part of the Southern region of the United States, has a significant, documented history of oppression of African-American people. Despite the abolishment of slavery, oppression and racism still remains prevalent in our society. We strive to stop this injustice and aim to treat everyone equitably. We condemn the brutality recently witnessed against George Floyd, Ahmaud Abery, and Breonna Taylor. We publicly acknowledge the “Black Lives Matter” movement and support it. We are committed to healing, not just the diseases that we treat medically and surgically, but fostering healing of the deep historic wounds in our community.