Author(s)
Alisha Ria Pershad, BS
Esther Lee, DO
Neelima Tummala, MD
Punam Thakkar, MD
Affiliation(s)
George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences;
Abstract:
Educational Objective: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants should be able to recognize that despite efforts to facilitate entry into otolaryngology, experiences in medical school among current residents illustrate persistent gender disparities. Participants should identify and understand specific factors that can be targeted to build more diverse and inclusive residency programs.
Objectives: Despite increasing efforts to improve gender equity in otolaryngology, there remains a paucity of literature evaluating factors that influence female identifying residents' career choice in the field. We aimed to survey medical school experiences that affected current U.S. residents' decisions to pursue a career in otolaryngology to better understand the current state of gender disparities in the field.
Study Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Methods: A voluntary IRB approved survey was distributed to U.S. residency program directors and program coordinators to distribute to their residents; responses between male and female identifying residents were compared.
Results: A total of 137 complete surveys were included; 78 (58%) respondents identified as female with mean age of 29.7 +/- 2.8 years. Factors that deterred female respondents from pursuing otolaryngology were board scores (p<0.05), concerns about diversity (p<0.05), and concern for time limitations for raising a family (p<0.0005). Female respondents were less likely to agree that otolaryngology is a gender neutral field (p<0.001), more likely to have witnessed or experienced gender discrimination (p<0.05) and have their physical abilities questioned (p<0.05), as compared to their male counterparts. Having a same gender mentor significantly impacted career choice (p<0.0005). Female respondents were more likely to receive negative comments about ability to raise children as a surgeon in training (p<0.0005), but this did not impact the decision to pursue otolaryngology.
Conclusions: Despite efforts to facilitate entry into otolaryngology, experiences in medical school among current residents illustrate persistent gender disparities. The results of this study identify specific factors that can be targeted to build more diverse and inclusive residency programs.