Braids, Twists and Surgical Knots
A Culture-Based Surgery Exposure Program
CFI project lead: Yannet Daniel
CFI advisor: Gifty Kwakye, MD, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery
The physician workforce in the United States does not yet reflect the diversity of the communities it serves. Black individuals remain underrepresented in medicine and surgery, and Black women make up less than 1% of surgeons in faculty positions. Traditional pipeline programs often aim to address this gap through mentorship, shadowing and medical education, but many rely on one-way teaching models that may not fully engage students or prevent “leaks” in the pathway to medical careers.
Braids, Twists, and Surgical Knots is a community-centered outreach program designed to reimagine early exposure to surgery for Black girls. Modeled on successful health care interventions that meet communities where they are, the program partners with a professional hair salon and connects surgical skills to culturally meaningful hairstyling practices. By drawing connections between braiding, twisting, knot-tying, dexterity and surgical technique, the program helps participants recognize skills they may already have as valuable and transferable to careers in medicine.
The program also seeks to challenge harmful narratives surrounding Black hair, particularly in academic and professional environments where Eurocentric standards have often shaped expectations of appearance and belonging. By celebrating Black hair as a source of identity, skill and strength, Braids, Twists, and Surgical Knots aims to empower Black adolescents to see themselves in surgical and medical careers — not despite their hair, but because of it.
While the current model centers on Black hair and empowerment, the approach can be adapted for other historically underrepresented communities by incorporating culturally relevant practices and partnerships. Ultimately, the program aims to create a new, meaningful entry point into health care careers by bridging medicine, culture and community.
Topic area: Health Equity
Q&A with Yannet Daniel
In what ways did this project influence your academic or career goals?
Career goals are tied around community-based engagement, partnerships and research.
What challenges did you face during your CFI project, and how did you address them?
Maintaining progress throughout the year, even months before the date of our event. Addressed it by having monthly meetings and objectives for our team to meet. Continuing to discuss long term goals for sustainability
What skills did you develop while working on your project, and how might these skills benefit your future career?
Learning how to build sustainable community partnerships, delegating tasks to team members, qualitative research design, statistical analysis, manuscript writing.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your CFI project, and why was it meaningful to you?
Executing the event, working with the students and our community partners. Empowerment is important to me and I think it is important we instill a sense of self-efficacy in young minority students. Everyone is invested in the mission and making the most of the program which is very encouraging to witness.
If you could repeat your CFI project, what would you change to improve the outcomes or process?
Earlier timeline to delegate tasks so that new team members have time to ask questions and learn the process for themselves.
What advice would you offer to future students starting a CFI project, based on your experience?
Do something you are passionate about! Then it's not only worth your time, but everyone else will see your passions shine through too!
