Women's Leadership in Foot and Ankle Surgery: Mentorship and Sponsorship

Women remain markedly underrepresented in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery, holding few faculty and leadership positions despite rising numbers entering residency-a persistent "leaky pipeline." This article argues that mentorship and sponsorship are essential, complementary strategies for closing the gap. Mentorship builds competence, confidence, and belonging, while sponsorship actively advocates for women's access to visibility, leadership, and opportunity, benefiting them disproportionately. The authors propose formal programs, institutional accountability, promotion incentives, and a centralized fellowship database to achieve sustainable gender equity.