TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender-Specific Factors Influencing Gastroenterologists to Pursue Careers in Advanced Endoscopy
T2 - Perceptions vs Reality
AU - David, Yakira N.
AU - Dixon, Rebekah E.
AU - Kakked, Gaurav
AU - Rabinowitz, Loren G.
AU - Grinspan, Lauren T.
AU - Anandasabapathy, Sharmila
AU - Greenwald, David A.
AU - Kim, Michelle K.
AU - Sethi, Amrita
AU - Kumta, Nikhil A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/3/1
Y1 - 2021/3/1
N2 - INTRODUCTION:In 2020, only 19% of 63 matched advanced endoscopy (AE) fellows were women. This study evaluates the gender-specific factors that influence gastroenterologists to pursue careers in AE.METHODS:An anonymous survey was distributed to gastroenterology fellows and attendings through various gastroenterology society online forums. Data were collected on demographics, training, mentorship, current practice, family planning, and career satisfaction.RESULTS:Women comprised 71.1% of the 332 respondents. 24.7% of female fellows plan to pursue an AE career compared with 37.5% of male fellows (P = 0.195). The main motivating factor for both genders was interest in the subject area. Interest in another subspecialty was the main deterring factor for both genders. Women were more deterred by absence of same-sex mentors (P < 0.001), perception of gender-based bias in the workplace (P = 0.009), family planning (P = 0.018), fertility/pregnancy risks from radiation (P < 0.001), and lack of ergonomic equipment (P = 0.003). AE gastroenterologists of both genders were satisfied with their career decision and would recommend the field to any fellow. Most respondents (64%) believed that more female role models/mentors would improve representation of women in AE.DISCUSSION:There are multiple gender-specific factors that deter women from pursuing AE. Increasing the number of female role models is strongly perceived to improve representation of women in AE. Most AE attendings are satisfied with their career and would recommend it to fellows of any gender. Thus, early targeted mentorship of female trainees has potential to improve recruitment of women to the field.
AB - INTRODUCTION:In 2020, only 19% of 63 matched advanced endoscopy (AE) fellows were women. This study evaluates the gender-specific factors that influence gastroenterologists to pursue careers in AE.METHODS:An anonymous survey was distributed to gastroenterology fellows and attendings through various gastroenterology society online forums. Data were collected on demographics, training, mentorship, current practice, family planning, and career satisfaction.RESULTS:Women comprised 71.1% of the 332 respondents. 24.7% of female fellows plan to pursue an AE career compared with 37.5% of male fellows (P = 0.195). The main motivating factor for both genders was interest in the subject area. Interest in another subspecialty was the main deterring factor for both genders. Women were more deterred by absence of same-sex mentors (P < 0.001), perception of gender-based bias in the workplace (P = 0.009), family planning (P = 0.018), fertility/pregnancy risks from radiation (P < 0.001), and lack of ergonomic equipment (P = 0.003). AE gastroenterologists of both genders were satisfied with their career decision and would recommend the field to any fellow. Most respondents (64%) believed that more female role models/mentors would improve representation of women in AE.DISCUSSION:There are multiple gender-specific factors that deter women from pursuing AE. Increasing the number of female role models is strongly perceived to improve representation of women in AE. Most AE attendings are satisfied with their career and would recommend it to fellows of any gender. Thus, early targeted mentorship of female trainees has potential to improve recruitment of women to the field.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102539561&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001112
DO - 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001112
M3 - Article
C2 - 33657041
AN - SCOPUS:85102539561
SN - 0002-9270
VL - 116
SP - 539
EP - 550
JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 3
ER -