Women in Hand Surgery: Considerations and Support

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Surgical Education
• Gender Studies in Medicine

Background:

• Hand surgery training programs often lack adequate support for female trainees navigating career and family planning.
• Societal and professional challenges related to maternity and family planning can deter women from pursuing or advancing in surgical specialties.
• Existing data on infertility, obstetrics, breastfeeding, parental leave, career progression, and childcare for female surgeons is fragmented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current data on issues affecting female trainees and practicing hand surgeons.
• To identify challenges related to maternity and family planning in surgical careers.
• To advocate for increased support systems for women in hand surgery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current data.
• Analysis of challenges in training programs.
• Synthesis of information on infertility, obstetrics, breastfeeding, maternity leave, career advancement, and childcare.

Main Results:

• Maternity and family planning pose significant barriers for women in hand surgery.
• Training program culture needs adaptation to support female surgeons' familial and professional goals.
• Lack of support can hinder career progression and specialty choice for women.

Conclusions:

• Supportive training environments are essential for retaining and advancing women in hand surgery.
• Addressing the needs of female trainees regarding family planning is critical for gender equity in surgery.
• Further research and policy changes are needed to improve support for female hand surgeons.