Parental Status among Successful Applicants to Urology Residency

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Urology
• Gender Studies in Medicine

Background:

• Assessed academic and demographic factors for men and women entering urology residency.
• Investigated the association of parental status with gender in urology residency applicants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare academic and demographic characteristics of male and female urology residency applicants.
• To identify differences in parental status between male and female applicants entering urology residency.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous internet-based survey distributed to 1,184 urology residents and fellows.
• Data collected on academic and demographic characteristics at the time of residency application.
• Statistical analysis included chi-squared testing and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• 215 responses analyzed (150 men, 65 women).
• No significant differences in age, relationship status, AOA membership, publication status, or medical school ranking.
• Male applicants were significantly more likely to have children than female applicants (18% vs 3.1%, OR 6.91).

Conclusions:

• Female urology residents are less likely to have children at the time of application compared to their male counterparts.
• This disparity may pose challenges for women in urology due to career and childbearing timelines.
• Recommendations include fostering an environment supportive of women having children earlier in their careers.