Women in surgery: bright, sharp, brave, and temperate
Elisabeth C McLemore1, Sonia Ramamoorthy, Carrie Y Peterson
1University of California San Diego, CA, USA. emclemore@ucsd.edu
Women are increasingly entering medicine, but remain underrepresented in surgical leadership. This review explores the history of women in surgery and proposes strategies to advance their careers.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Residencies
- Academic Surgery
Background:
- Historically, women were significantly underrepresented in medical schools.
- Recent trends show a near 50% increase in female medical school applicants.
Observation:
- A notable gender disparity persists in surgical residency graduates.
- Women hold less than 20% of senior academic surgical positions.
Findings:
- The historical underrepresentation of women in surgery is evolving.
- Increased female enrollment in earlier decades may lead to future leadership parity.
Implications:
- Creative institutional and individual strategies are needed to promote women's advancement in surgery.
- Addressing current disparities can foster greater gender balance in surgical leadership.
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