Dissuasion in women surgical trainees pursuing cardiothoracic surgery

Hope Conrad; Clementine Young; Christine Alvarado; Rashmi Rao; Stephanie Worrell

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.10.014

Dissuasion in women surgical trainees pursuing cardiothoracic surgery

Am J Surg. 2024 Jan:227:161-164. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.10.014. Epub 2023 Oct 5.

Authors

Hope Conrad¹, Clementine Young², Christine Alvarado³, Rashmi Rao⁴, Stephanie Worrell⁵

Affiliations

¹ University of Arizona Department of Surgery, 1625 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA. Electronic address: hconrad@arizona.edu.
² University of Arizona Department of Surgery, 1625 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA. Electronic address: clementineyoung@arizona.edu.
³ Case Western University Department of Surgery, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. Electronic address: Christine.alvarado@uhhospitals.org.
⁴ University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. Electronic address: rashmirao@pitt.edu.
⁵ University of Arizona Department of Surgery, 1625 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA. Electronic address: sworrell@arizona.edu.

PMID: 37865542
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.10.014

Abstract

Background: The reasons for persistent gender disparity in cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) are multifaceted. The objective of this paper is to understand if and why women surgical trainees are dissuaded from pursuing CTS.

Methods: A survey was sent to self-identified women participating in Women in Thoracic Surgery speed mentoring. Statistical analysis was performed to determine dissuasion rates. Open-ended responses describing examples of dissuasion were characterized and categorized.

Results: Of all participants, 76 % (163/215) reported dissuasion from a CTS career. Third- and fourth-year medical students experienced the highest rate by training (81 %, 48/59) and those interested in Congenital CTS experienced the highest rate based on subspecialty interest (94 %, 17/18). The most cited dissuasion examples included work/life balance, lifestyle with children, and gender.

Conclusions: Most women surveyed had been dissuaded from pursuing a career in CTS. Examples of dissuasion provided are heavily associated with traditional gender roles, supporting the presence of continued gender bias in CTS.

MeSH terms

Career Choice
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Sexism
Specialties, Surgical*
Students, Medical*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Thoracic Surgery* / education
Thoracic Surgical Procedures* / education