Congenital: EducationImpact of gender in congenital heart surgery: Results from a national survey
Graphical abstract
Section snippets
Materials and Methods
A cross-sectional survey was designed by 2 female congenital heart surgeons and received Institutional Review Board approval (20-123 CCMC, 1.21.2021). The survey (Online Data Supplement) was sent electronically via REDCap in December 2020 to a list of women (group 1) practicing CHS in the United States. The list of female surgeons was created on the basis of professional affiliations and publicly available hospital websites. A subsequent list of male congenital heart surgeons (group 2) was
Results
A total of 18 women and 257 men were identified per the inclusion criteria with 94% (n = 17) and 44% (n = 112) of women and men completing the surveys, respectively. A summary of results is listed in Table 1 (demographics), Table 2 (gender issues), and Table 3 (salaries by academic rank).
Discussion
Women constitute not only half of the medical school graduates but also half of the potential CHS workforce. Although there has been a focus on decreasing the gender gap in thoracic surgery, the subspecialty of congenital warrants individual focus because of its unique characteristics: additional training and board certification beyond general surgery residency + cardiothoracic (CT) surgery fellowship or integrated CT surgery residency, an extraordinarily competitive and well-saturated job
Conclusions
Addressing the lack of gender equity in thoracic surgery (including within each of its branches) is of paramount importance for a multitude of reasons, including the projected thoracic surgeon workforce deficit and the association between female physician gender and better clinical outcomes.20 Women's progress appears to be stunted because of disparities in “academic progression” and lack of reportedly healthy and supportive work environments focused on professional development (Figure 5).
References (20)
- et al.
An exploration of myths, barriers, and strategies for improving diversity among STS members
Ann Thorac Surg
(2019) - et al.
STS 2019 workforce report: ad hoc analysis of women in cardiothoracic surgery
Ann Thorac Surg
(2021) - et al.
Gender and cardiothoracic surgery training: specialty interests, satisfaction, and career pathways
Ann Thorac Surg
(2016) - et al.
Women in thoracic surgery scholarship: impact on career path and interest in cardiothoracic surgery
Ann Thorac Surg
(2021) Congenital heart surgery subspecialty certification: how is it working? The American Board of Thoracic Surgery Perspective
Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Pediatr Card Surg Ann
(2017)- et al.
The confidence gap: findings for women in plastic surgery
Am J Surg
(2020) - et al.
2020 women in thoracic surgery update on the status of women in cardiothoracic surgery
Ann Thorac Surg
(2022) - et al.
Birth trends and factors affecting childbearing among thoracic surgeons
Ann Thorac Surg
(2014) - et al.
Obstetrical complications in pregnant medical and surgical residents
J Obstet Gynaecol Can
(2015) - et al.
Representation of women in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons authorship and leadership positions
Ann Thorac Surg
(2020)
Cited by (3)
Working Toward Solutions for Gender Disparity: Implications of the 2022 Congenital Workforce Survey
2024, Annals of Thoracic SurgeryThe journey of becoming a congenital heart surgeon: Too long, too costly, too unpredictable
2024, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular SurgeryReport of the 2022 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Practice Survey
2023, Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Read at the 102nd Annual Meeting of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts, May 14-17, 2022.