Challenges Confronting Female Surgical Leaders: Overcoming the Barriers

doi:10.1016/j.jss.2006.02.009

Journal of Surgical Research

Volume 132, Issue 2, 15 May 2006, Pages 179-187

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2006.02.009 Get rights and content

Background

The number of women reaching top ranks in academic surgery is remarkably low. The purpose of this study was to identify: 1) barriers to becoming a female surgical leader; 2) key attributes that enable advancement and success; and 3) current leadership challenges faced as senior leaders.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews of ten female surgical leaders queried the following dimensions: attributes for success, lessons learned, mistakes, key career steps, the role of mentoring, gender advantages/disadvantages, and challenges.

Results

Perseverance (60%) and drive (50%) were identified as critical success factors, as were good communication skills, a passion for scholarship, a stable home life and a positive outlook. Eighty percent identified discrimination or gender prejudice as a major obstacle in their careers. While 90% percent had mentors, 50% acknowledged that they had not been effectively mentored. Career advice included: develop broad career goals (50%); select a conducive environment (30%); find a mentor (60%); take personal responsibility (40%); organize time and achieve balance (40%); network (30%); create a niche (30%); pursue research (30%); publish (50%); speak in public (30%); and enjoy the process (30%). Being in a minority, being highly visible and being collaborative were identified as advantages. Obtaining buy-in and achieving consensus was the greatest leadership challenge reported.

Conclusions

Female academic surgeons face challenges to career advancement. While these barriers are real, they can be overcome by resolve, commitment, and developing strong communication skills. These elements should be taken into consideration in designing career development programs for junior female surgical faculty.

Introduction

The past three decades have seen a steady increase in the numbers of women applying to and being accepted into medical school, such that in 2005 women comprised 49% of all medical students [1]. The number of women pursuing careers in academic medicine has also increased, albeit more slowly. Despite more women in the “pipeline,” women remain seriously underrepresented among tenured faculty and in positions of leadership in academic medicine [2]. In 2005, women represented only 32% of medical school faculty, 15% of full professors, and 11% of department chairs [1]. These gender discrepancies were more pronounced in academic surgery where women represented 16% of the faculty and 6% of full professors [1], and only 2% of department chairs (personal communication w/ Hershel Alexander, Director of Faculty Data Systems and Studies, American Association of Medical Colleges; January 9, 2006). The absolute number of women reaching the top ranks in academic surgery is remarkably low. A number of studies have attempted to understand the barriers confronting women in medicine [3, 4, 5, 6] and to identify potential remedies [2, 3, 7]. This study was undertaken to identify key attributes and practices that enable academic advancement and success; barriers and obstacles for women seeking leadership positions in academic surgery; and current leadership challenges facing female surgical leaders in their senior leadership roles.

Section snippets

Methods

We performed a semi-structured telephone interview of female leaders in academic surgery. Potential participants identified for the study were senior female faculty who had achieved the position of chair, center director, surgeon-in-chief, or program director. Structured, but open-ended questions were developed to evaluate the following dimensions of leadership: personal attributes of success, lessons learned, obstacles encountered and how these were overcome, mistakes to avoid, career advice,

Results

Letters of invitation were sent to 11 women; 10 agreed to participate. Five were current or previous chairs, one was surgeon-in-chief, three were directors or division chiefs, and one was a hospital medical director. Passages from the transcripts that exemplify themes or illustrate specific data elements are quoted as results in this report. Any identifying information is withheld. Where appropriate, the frequencies with which particular views were expressed are noted.

Discussion

While the number of women entering medical school has risen progressively in the past 35 years, the surgical specialties continue to attract relatively few women [9]. Further, the number of women surgeons who seek a career in academic medicine and advance to become a leader in the field is remarkably low. In 2005, only 7 of 301 surgical chairs (2%) were female. This ranks among the very lowest percentage of all departments in academic health centers (personal communication, Alexander, AAMC).

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Hershel Alexander and Mary Blew for their assistance in preparing this manuscript.

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EducationChallenges Confronting Female Surgical Leaders: Overcoming the Barriers

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Introduction

Section snippets

Methods

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgments

Surgery

Am J Surg

Am J Surg

Am J ObGyn

J Surg Res

Leadership Qtrly

Increasing women’s leadership in academic medicineReport of the AAMC project implementation committee

Acad Med

CommentaryAcademic medicine gets a poor report card—What are we going to do?

Acad Med

Promotion of women physicians in academic medicineGlass ceiling or sticky floor?

JAMA

Why aren’t there more women leaders in academic medicine? The views of clinical department chairs

Acad Med

Gender differences in academic advancementPatterns, causes, and potential solutions in on US college of medicine

Acad Med

Education
Challenges Confronting Female Surgical Leaders: Overcoming the Barriers