Colors of Anesthesiology

This book delves into the experiences of anesthesiologists from non-dominant cultures, focusing on the challenges they encounter in their profession. Anesthesia often involves brief, critical interactions with patients, leaving little time for anything but implicit bias to affect patient perceptions. Bias becomes especially prominent during training and practice, as individuals from diverse backgrounds face differential treatment by patients, instructors, and colleagues. Employing an anecdotal approach, the book examines the gap between what individuals from non-dominant cultures expected in their careers versus what they observed in reality. It also explores whether degree attainment and board certification conferred any advantages. The book comprises essays from anesthesiologists of diverse backgrounds, sharing their collective experiences and perspectives, contrasting their journeys with those from the dominant culture. Ultimately, the book seeks to illuminate another facet of bias that permeates the practice of anesthesiology, medicine, and society, with the hope that understanding these experiences will lead to greater compassion.