Collaborative Anesthesia and Surgical Services Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CASSEDI) Multi-Disciplinary Team
The Collaborative Anesthesia and Surgical Services Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CASSEDI) multidisciplinary team consists of EDI leaders from anesthesia and multiple surgical departments (Otolaryngology, Orthopedics, OB/GYN, Neurosurgery, Surgery). We meet monthly to share resources for advancing equity within and across the perioperative services space. We collaborate on a multidisciplinary Grand Rounds speaker series and share resources for retaining and recruiting stellar faculty, fellows, residents, and staff from historically marginalized backgrounds. We engage in community outreach and work together on pathway programs to help students from high school through college fall in love with health care in surgical specialties. Our mission is to continue to nurture and grow a culture of belonging that embraces and celebrates diversity in all its forms. Transforming our departments, our service lines, and institution by creating a place where all belong enhances our clinical excellence, service, education, and research enterprises.
CASSEDI Multidisciplinary Grand Rounds Series
Upcoming Dates and Speakers
- April 12, 2023 – Nikki Smith
- September 13, 2023 - Dr. Quinn Capers from UTSW
- October 11, 2023 – Dr. Carrie Cunningham from Harvard
- January 10, 2024 - Dr. Lisa Lattanza from Yale
Previous Dates and Speakers
CASSEDI Educational and Training Outreach
- USTAR Program – Director Elliot Asare MD
- Whittier Living Labs Program
Events and Happenings
CASSEDI is excited to help host the 2nd Annual IMAGINE U Day on Wed May 24, 2023.
We will be hosting 6th graders from 3 elementary schools in West Valley City: Hillside, Whittier, and Hunter at the College of Nursing Simulation Center!
There will be five hands-on, simulations stations for those 6th graders interested in healthcare:
- VITAL SIGNS – nursing
- BONES: skull plating and finger casting - otolaryngology and ortho
- ULTRASOUND and ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY - anesthesia and OB/GYN
- BLEEDING ARM - trauma
- Q&A with nurses and physicians
The IMAGINE U event is University-wide. Here is a U press release and also a KSL article about the 2022 event:
https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/sixth-graders-experience-their-dream-careers-at-imagine-u-day/ https://www.ksl.com/article/50411815/west-valley-students-get-a-glimpse-into-their-professional-dreams CAN’T WAIT!
Department Leads
Jeremiah A. Alt MD PhD FARS FACS
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
Vice Chair, Department of Surgery, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Director(co) Sinus & Skull Base Surgery Program & Fellowship
Adjunct Associate Professor, BioMedical Engineering
Adjunct Associate Professor, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Adjunct Associate Professor, Medicinal Chemistry
Pronouns: (he/him/his)
E-mail: jeremiah.alt@hsc.utah.edu

Kristen Carroll, MD
Professor, Orthopedics
Medical Director, Shriners Children's Hospital
Chair, Department of Orthopedics, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Sherman S Coleman Presidential Endowed Chair, Pediatric Orthopedics
Pronouns: (she/her/hers)
E-mail: Kcarroll@shrinenet.org
Phone Number: 801-536-3600

Michelle Debbink, MD PhD
Assistant Professor, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Departmental Vice Chair for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Pronouns: (she/her/hers)

Emily Hagn, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology
Associate Professor, Division of Pain Medicine
Pronouns: (she/her/hers)

Samuel Cheshier, MD PhD
Associate Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics
Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Director of Pediatric Surgical Nero-Oncology
Kathryn S.R. Lowry Endowed Chair in the Department of Neurosurgery
Huntsman Cancer Institute 5 for the Fight Fellow
Pronouns: (he/him/his)

Katie Snow
Associate Director of Education, Department of Anesthesiology
CASSEDI Coordinator
Pronouns: (she/her/hers)
E-mail: katie.snow@hsc.utah.edu

If you represent the EDI efforts of a surgical department and would like to join our monthly meeting, please email Katie Snow.