Factors affecting choice of surgical residency training program.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Gender Diversity in Medicine

Background:

• Underrepresentation of women in surgery is a persistent issue in American medical training.
• General surgical residency programs historically show low percentages of female graduates.
• This study investigates factors influencing resident program choice and high female graduate rates at a specific institution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors influencing residents' selection of surgical training programs.
• To understand the reasons behind a particular program's success in graduating a high percentage of women in surgery.
• To explore gender-based differences in perceptions of surgical careers and training environments.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to general surgical residents who completed training between 1989 and 2000.
• Data collected included demographics, mentorship experiences, and opinions on role models and career encouragement.
• Response rates and postgraduate career paths (fellowship, academia) were analyzed for male and female residents.

Main Results:

• Mentorship: 90% of women had male mentors, while only 23% of men had female mentors.
• Role Models: 80% of women agreed on the need for female faculty role models, compared to 59% of men (P < 0.05).
• Career Encouragement: Significantly fewer women (45%) would encourage female students into surgery compared to men (55%), yet more men (82%) would encourage male students than women (50%).

Conclusions:

• Surgical residency programs with strong leadership, clinical experience, and high morale attract both genders.
• Women's program selection may be more influenced by the gender composition and geographic location.
• Addressing mentorship and role model availability is vital for increasing female participation in surgical careers.