Orthopaedic Surgery

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

EDI Committee Objectives

Conduct department-wide EDI survey using the survey tool developed by the David Geffen School of Medicine to understand EDI climate, needs, and opportunities with the goal of developing an action plan based on the results. Implement the action plan and re-survey the department to confirm improvements.
Establish a Visiting Student Scholarship program for medical students from underrepresented backgrounds to foster interest in Orthopaedic Surgery and encourage students to visit the department.
Develop and support Adaptive Sports Medicine Program with recreational and competitive components for athletes admitted to UCLA and UCLA undergraduate student athletes. The program aims to start by supporting wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball. The program’s long-term goal is to support UCLA adaptive sports teams.
Incorporate EDI topics into Grand Rounds.

Committee Members

Sharon L. Hame, MD

Committee Chair

Elizabeth L. Lord, MD

Committee Member

Adam A. Sassoon, MD, MS

Committee Member

Aurelia Nattiv, MD

Committee Member

Kristofer J. Jones, MD

Committee Member

Alice Soragni, PhD

Committee Member

Feranmi Okanlami, MD

Committee Member

Rishi Trikha, MD

Committee Member

Jennifer Kallini, MD

Committee Member

Ksenia Kurnakova, MPH

Committee Member

Adiat Azeez, MHA

Committee Member

Marie Dyer

Administrative Support

Visiting Student Scholarship Program

The UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery strives to foster a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion for faculty, staff, fellows, residents, medical students, and patients. The Visiting Student Scholarship Program provides financial support for up to two medical students who have applied for the UCLA Orthopaedic Surgery Sub-Internship and have completed the required scholarship application. The scholarship is open to all medical students.

Visiting Student Scholarship Program Overview (2023 Application Closed)

2023 Visiting Student Scholarship Recipients

Ambar Garcia

Columbia University

Zachary Randall

Washington University - St. Louis

Faculty & Resident EDI Spotlight

Our Faculty & Resident EDI Spotlight is Dr. Rishi Trikha! Dr. Trikha currently serves on the UCLA Orthopaedic Surgery EDI Committee and has proven to be an accomplished researcher and surgeon. Read below to see what being on the EDI Committee means to him!

"I am a current PGY-3 whose goal on the EDI committee is to expose a diverse, capable new generation of medical students to orthopaedic surgery. My mother is of Indian heritage and grew up in a small town in Kenya. She moved to the United States for university and raised me by herself. She always impressed upon me the importance of remembering where we came from, giving back and to be grateful for what we have. I am honored to be part of the EDI committee and am excited to help the next generation of students discover the wonders of orthopaedic surgery!"

-Rishi Trikha, MD (PGY-3)