Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Professional Career of Women in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic altered all facets of society on a fundamental level, impacting work, mental health, and family life. Female surgeons experienced gender inequity and bias before COVID; therefore, women in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) were affected disproportionately by the repercussions of the pandemic. Well-established inequalities are intensified during times of crisis. This article enlightens readers regarding the preexisting inequalities in the OMS specialty, how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these ubiquitous issues, and how the specialty should accommodate these inequities moving forward.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Gender inequity; Implicit bias; Pay disparity; Physician burnout; Virtual education format; Women in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS).