I am grateful to say that I’ve never had to aspire to a different set of standards because I am a woman. In fact, since coming to medical school, I have been quite surprised to realize that certain levels of gender bias – conscious or unconscious – still exist in an arena as educated and cutting-edge as the surgical theatre! As a young woman and a medical student who potentially would like to pursue surgery, I feel it very important to engage in the dialogue that encourages equal accessibility of all people to this field. Here is some information on the topic of women in surgery:
Why discuss the issue of women in surgery? Women now make the majority of medical students in the UK. However, women are still underrepresented in the surgical field, especially in leadership positions. According to the Royal College of Surgeons England, the increased number of female medical students has not yet translated into an increased proportion of women surgeons, and in 2020 only 13.2% of surgical consultants were women. The statistics in the US are similar – 35.2% of all active physicians are women, but fewer than 25% of surgeons are women. At the same time, the number of women in surgery does vary by specialty. In the US, only 5.3% of orthopedic surgeons are female; in contrasts, the largest number of women surgeons can be found in pediatric surgery and obstetrics and gynecology. Do women surgeons perform as well as their male counterparts? Much has been written about the importance of the healthcare workforce sharing the diversity of the populations it serves. Data also suggests that women surgeons are at least as competent as their male counterparts, and bring value to the profession. In a large study published in the British Medical Journal in 2017, postoperative outcomes among patients treated by male and female surgeons were compared. The publication found that patients treated by female surgeons had a small but statistically significant decrease in 30-day-mortality and similar surgical outcomes compared to patients treated by male surgeons. Similarly, a 2010 study looking at performance of male and female orthopedics residents found no difference in the two groups’ performance. Other studies of physicians have shown that female physicians do better at following medical guidelines, communicate better with their patients and adopt a patient centered approach to their care. This research all substantiates the fact that having women surgeons in the workplace is as good as having male surgeons. Why are there fewer women surgeons? This is a complex multifactorial situation. There are reports of conscious and unconscious bias across the board. Some surgical specialties and departments have carried the perception of being the “old boys’ club” which can be a deterrent. A lack of an obvious female role model in whose footsteps trainees can follow can also be an issue. In addition, surgical trainees may be deterred from pursuing a career in surgery by their own perceptions and the influence from peers and families; particularly since surgery is commonly perceived as a field where it is difficult to balance work with family. Trainees thus cite perceived barriers of poor work-life balance, inflexibility over part-time careers, gender stereotyping and discrimination, and lack of formal mentorship as reasons why women are underrepresented in the field. What can be done to increase number of women surgeons?
Where do women’s organizations fit in? Organizations such as Association of Women’s Surgeons (AWS) and Women in Surgery (WIS) help highlight the role women can play in the future of surgery. They also help create structures for more active mentorship of medical students in surgery. This is why I am grateful and proud to work as the president of the AWS Edinburgh Chapter this year. In this role I lead our chapter in the execution of topical and helpful events, and also work in collaboration with the greater AWS European Region community of medical school chapters from all over Europe. I am also very glad to see the many initiatives and dialogues that are taking place in the Edinburgh community. While continuing progress is still necessary, I look forward to witnessing ever-improving inclusivity in surgery – for women and all other groups – in the future!
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11/29/2023 09:39:09 pm
We know that the planet Mars comes closest to the earth every 15 years. The closest location on July 31, 2018 is about 58 million km. The average of a signal to be sent from Earth to Mars is 5-8 minutes. considering the Deceleration period, even when viewed in the most optimistic way, it seems unlikely to operate on a human at this distance with a remote-controlled robot. Because when an internal bleeding situation occurs, it is urgently necessary to intervene within 3-4 minutes.
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