Chelsea Dorsey

Chelsea Dorsey serves as Professor in the Department of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine, where she also holds the significant leadership position of Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Her academic appointments and publications demonstrate dual expertise in clinical vascular surgery and systemic approaches to equity in surgical practice.

Dr. Dorsey completed her medical education at The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, followed by internship and residency training at Stanford Hospital. This clinical foundation has informed her scholarly trajectory from technical vascular procedures toward addressing structural issues in surgical culture and education.

Her research interests center on the intersection of vascular surgery and health equity, with particular focus on microaggressions in surgical environments, workforce diversity in surgical specialties, and the implementation of equity frameworks in surgical education and practice. Dr. Dorsey has developed innovative approaches to addressing racial and gender disparities through the uChicago Health Inequity Classification System and simulation-based interventions for microaggressions.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a clear evolution from traditional vascular surgery topics toward systemic issues in surgical culture. Her recent work (2023-2025) almost exclusively addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion topics, with particular emphasis on microaggressions, promotion equity, and leadership development for women of color in academic surgery. This represents a strategic pivot from her earlier work on technical vascular procedures toward addressing the structural foundations of surgical practice.

Dr. Dorsey has established herself as a thought leader in diversity initiatives within surgical departments, evidenced by her role as Vice Chair of DEI and her influential publications on implementing equity frameworks in surgical settings. Her work bridges clinical practice with organizational change, creating practical tools for departments seeking to address systemic inequities.

Through her leadership in developing simulation workshops for addressing microaggressions and her research on workforce diversity trends, Dr. Dorsey has created pathways for meaningful cultural change within surgical environments. Her scholarship provides both theoretical frameworks and practical implementation strategies for departments committed to creating more inclusive surgical cultures.