Health Equity in Orthopaedics, with special guest Linda Suleiman, MD.

Linda Suleiman

MD

Associate Professor, Northwestern University

View More

Marc Swiontkowski

MD, FAOA

Professor, University of Minnesota

Mohit Bhandari

FRCSC, PhD

Distinguished University Professor, Chair of Surgery, McMaster University

Health equity in arthroplasty remains stagnant despite decades of evidence showing stark disparities in access, uptake, and outcomes. Linda Suleiman describes how elective joint replacement exposes deep social determinants—transportation barriers, food insecurity, language, and education—that outweigh traditional medical risk. Northwestern’s multidisciplinary team uses community partnerships, AI-supported screening, and streamlined referrals to improve access for vulnerable populations. Suleiman calls for journals and researchers to report standardized equity metrics such as SDOH, ADI, and SVI to shift from descriptive disparities to actionable solutions.