Gender Disparities in Mentorship and Career Outcomes in Ophthalmology

Background: Gender disparities in the field of ophthalmology have been increasingly recognized. Although mentorship has been proposed as a contributing factor, there are limited data on the differences in mentorship experiences by gender among ophthalmologists. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate gender disparities in mentorship experiences among ophthalmologists, and the impact of mentorship disparities on career outcomes. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study. Setting: Web-based survey distributed through ophthalmology listservs. Participants: Ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists-in-training who completed the survey. Exposure: Training and practicing in the field of ophthalmology. Main Outcome Measures: Mentorship score based on 10 items from a previously published scale of mentorship quality and self-reported career outcomes (income, job satisfaction, achievement of career goals, and support to achieve future career goals). Results: We received survey responses from 202 male and 245 female ophthalmologists. Female ophthalmologists reported significantly lower mentorship satisfaction and worse quality of mentorship (p < 0.03). Female ophthalmologists also reported significantly lower income, worse job satisfaction, and lower rates of goal achievement and support to achieve future goals; all of these career outcomes, except income level, were partly mediated by mentorship score (mediation effect ranged from 29% to 68%, p < 0.014). Conclusions and Relevance: Gender-based inequities in achievement of career goals and job satisfaction are partly mediated by disparities in mentorship. Therefore, focused mentorship of women in ophthalmology at all career stages is imperative to reduce these inequities.