Female Surgeons in the 1990s

Authors:
  • GKGail Konishi
    Gail Konishi
  • DLDee L'Archeveque
    Dee L'Archeveque
  • RCRosa Choi
    Rosa Choi
  • TFToni Ferrario
    Toni Ferrario
  • JMJanette McGrath
    Janette McGrath
  • TNTomoko Nakawatase
    Tomoko Nakawatase
  • JFJulie Freischlag
    Julie Freischlag
  • WLWendy Levinson
    Wendy Levinson
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Abstract
As part of a larger survey of the membership of the Association of Women Surgeons, data were collected to characterize the participation of women in academic surgery and surgical education. Of the 1500 members, 676 (45%) responded, and 318 of these respondents held a faculty appointment. Two hundred thirty-nine of the respondents' practices were based in a university or university-affiliated hospital. This sample was biased toward more academically motivated, upwardly mobile surgeons. Two hundred thirty-six of the respondents believed policies relating to tenure are unfair to women. Four hundred fifty-three respondents reported having role models at some point in their career, half of whom were men. However, only 204 still had access to role models or mentors at the time of the survey. Six hundred thirty respondents believed that female medical students need successful female surgeons as role models. (Arch Surg. 1993;128:669-672)