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Practice patterns and career satisfaction of Canadian female general surgeons
Pamela C Hebbard1, Debrah A Wirtzfeld
1Department of Surgery, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
Background:
We wanted to study how female general surgeons in Canada manage lifestyle and career demands.
Methods:
All female Canadian general surgeons registered with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada were asked to complete a survey evaluating their practice patterns, personal lives, and levels of satisfaction related to these factors.
Results:
Eighty-five surveys (66%) were returned. Most respondents work in full-time clinical practices. While it was rare to find women in part-time or shared practices, 35% of women reported interest in these alternative models. Respondents described the necessary factors for a transition into alternative models. Job satisfaction was high (3.8 out of 5), with personal and parenting satisfaction being less highly rated (3.3 and 3.2, respectively).
Conclusions:
Canadian female general surgeons have active and satisfying careers, although many would like to work in alternative practice models that better conform to their lifestyle demands. This pressure will have a significant impact on the future surgical workforce.
