D. Baptiste1, A. M. Fecher1, J. Yoder3, C. M. Schmidt1, M. E. Couch2, D. P. Ceppa1,3 1Indiana University School Of Medicine,Surgery,Indianapolis, IN, USA 2Indiana University School Of Medicine,Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery,Indianapolis, IN, USA 3Indiana University School Of Medicine,Center For Outcomes Research In Surgery,Indianapolis, IN, USA
Introduction: An increasing number of women are pursuing a career in surgery. Concurrently, the percentage of surgeons in dual-profession partnerships is increasing. We sought to evaluate the gender differences in professional advancement, work-life balance and satisfaction at a large academic center.
Methods: All surgical residents, clinical fellows and faculty in the Departments of Surgery, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, and Urology at a single academic medical center were surveyed. The variables collected included gender, academic rank, academic productivity, marital status, family size, division of household responsibilities, and career satisfaction. Student’s t-tests, Fisher’s exact, and Chi-square were used to compare results.
Results: There were 127 faculty and 116 trainee respondents (>80% response rate). Respondents were mostly male (58% of trainees, 77% of faculty, p=0.002); 66% of trainees and 87% of faculty (p=<0.001) were married or in a committed relationship. The proportion of female surgeons increased across the generations (p=0.002), as did the percentage of surgeons in dual-profession partnerships (p=0.03). Women were more likely than men to be married to a professional (80% vs. 37%, p<0.001 for faculty; 82% vs. 42% p=0.001 for trainees). Women were also more likely to have a spouse employed in a full time position (p<0.001). Women were less likely to be on tenure track (p=0.002); there was no difference in academic rank (p=0.09) Female surgeons were less likely to have children (p<0.001) or more likely to have delayed child bearing (p=0.04), and more likely to have younger children (p<0.001). Women faculty compared to male faculty were more likely to be primarily responsible for childcare planning (p<0.001), meal planning (p<0.001), grocery shopping (p<0.001), and vacation planning (p=0.002). Gender neutral responsibilities included financial planning and monthly bill payment. Gender differences in division of household responsibilities were present in surgical trainees to a lesser degree. On a Likert scale, female surgeons scored lower satisfaction in personal life (p=0.02) and work life (p=0.002), but there was no statistically significant difference in the level of satisfaction with overall balance between faculty, trainees or genders. Surgeons later in their career reported greater satisfaction than surgeons in training or in early/mid-career (p>0.002).
Conclusion: There are an increasing number of women pursuing a career in surgery. Despite equivalent responsibilities at work, women surgeons are more likely to be partnered with a full-time working spouse and to be primarily responsible for managing their households. Additional consideration for improvement in recruitment and retention strategies for this and the next generation of surgeons might address barriers to equalizing these gender disparities.