Grit in Surgeons

Background: Women in surgery are often told that they are not “tough enough” to be surgeons. A Grit Score provides a validated measure of passion and perseverance, which are aspects of “toughness.” Methods: Survey data were collected from residents and attendings in all surgical fields through multiple surgical societies. Grit and burnout were measured using validated measures. Results: Among surgeons, gender did not have an impact on Grit Score. Burnout had a statistically significant inverse relationship with Grit Score, and women were more likely to report burnout compared to men surgeons. Conclusions: Women in surgery have just as much grit as their male counterparts. Grit should not be a factor in women pursuing a career in surgery.