Women in Thoracic Surgery 2020 Update—Subspecialty and Work-Life Balance Analysis

Abstract

Background While women comprise nearly half of medical school graduates, they remain underrepresented in cardiothoracic (CT) surgery. To better understand ongoing barriers, we aimed to delineate issues relevant to the CT subspecialities, emphasizing personal life. Methods An anonymous REDCap survey link was emailed to female diplomats of the American Board of Thoracic Surgeons (ABTS). The survey included questions on demographics, professional accolades, practice details, and personal life. Survey responses were compared across subspecialities using chi-squared testing. Results Of 354 female ABTS diplomats, we contacted 309, and 176 (57%) completed the survey. By subspecialty, 42% practice thoracic, 26% adult cardiac, and 10% congenital cardiac; 19% report a mixed practice. The subspecialties differed in length of training (congenital the longest), practice location (mixed practice less urban), and academic rank (thoracic most full professors at 17%), but were largely similar in their personal lives. Among all respondents, 65% are in a committed relationship, but 40% felt that being a CT surgeon negatively impacted their ability to find a partner. 60% have children, but 31% of those with children reported using assisted reproductive technology, surrogacy, or adoption. The number with leadership roles (e.g. division chief, committee chair of national organization) did not differ among subspecialities, but was low, ranging from 0 to <30%. Conclusions Women remain underrepresented in CT surgery, particularly in the academic rank of full professor and in leadership positions. We advocate for scholarship and mentorship opportunities to encourage women to enter the field, increased female leadership, and policies to enable families.