Women Are Vastly Underrepresented in Leadership Roles in Academic Surgery

A new study examines gender diversity in leadership positions in academic surgery. In an analysis of 2,165 faculty at 165 surgical departments in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, males outnumbered females across all leadership roles. Only 16.2 percent of leadership positions in academic medicine were held by women.

Men made up 86 percent of department chairs and 68 percent of vice chairs. Men were 87 percent of division chiefs. Women surgical leaders were disproportionately clustered in roles such as vice chair of diversity, equity, and inclusion or vice chair of faculty development. Almost two thirds of vice chairs for diversity, equity, and inclusion were women.

The authors conclude that “female surgical leaders are disproportionately clustered in roles (eg, VCs of DEI or faculty development) that may not translate into future promotion to department chairs.”

The full study “Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Diversity Among Academic Surgical Leaders in the US,” was published on the website of JAMA Surgery. It may be accessed here.