Women in Leadership and Their Influence on the Gender Diversity of Academic Plastic Surgery Programs

Abstract

Background: Women seldom reach the highest leadership positions in academic plastic surgery. Contributing factors include lack of female role models/mentors and lack of gender diversity. Studies show that female role models and mentors are critical for recruiting and retaining female surgeons and that gender diversity within organizations more strongly influences women’s career choices. The authors therefore sought to determine the current gender diversity of academic plastic surgery programs and investigate influences of gender and leadership on program gender composition. Methods: A cross-sectional study of U.S. plastic surgery residency programs was performed in December of 2018. Genders of the leadership were collected, including medical school dean, department of surgery chair, department/division of plastic surgery chair/chief, plastic surgery program director, plastic surgery faculty, and plastic surgery residents. Gender relationships among these groups were analyzed. Results: Ninety-nine residency programs were identified (79 integrated with or without independent and 20 independent). Women represented a smaller proportion of academic plastic surgeons in more senior positions (38 percent residents, 20 percent faculty, 13 percent program directors, and 8 percent chairs). Plastic surgery chair gender was significantly correlated with program director gender, and plastic surgery faculty gender was significantly associated with plastic surgery resident gender. Although not statistically significant, female plastic surgery chair gender was associated with a 45 percent relative increase in female plastic surgery residents. Conclusions: Women in leadership and gender diversity influence the composition of academic plastic surgery programs. Gender disparity exists at all levels, worsening up the academic ladder. Recruitment, retention, and promotion of women is critical, as such diversity is required for continued progress in innovation and problem-solving within plastic surgery.

Aspects of Women’s Leadership in the Organisation: Systematic Literature Review

“…Women leaders are usually found to be less assertive at the workplace because of their empathetic nature. A study (Keane et al, 2021) shows that leaders who are less assertive are likely to be more submissive, while leaders who show extreme assertiveness are found to be more aggressive and commanding in decision-making. They prefer more task-oriented behaviour and focus on achieving targets at any cost.…”

Identifying US Plastic Surgery Training Programs that Effectively Establish Gender and Ethnically Diverse Faculty

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Opportunity Costs of Internal Promotions in Plastic Surgery: Are Women Given a Fair Shot?

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