Reassessing career pathways of surgical leaders: An examination of surgical leaders' early accomplishments

Elana Meer; Byron D Hughes; Colin A Martin; Arturo J Rios-Diaz; Viren Patel; Carla M Pugh; Cherisse Berry; Steven C Stain; L D Britt; Sharon L Stein; Paris D Butler

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.04.012

Reassessing career pathways of surgical leaders: An examination of surgical leaders' early accomplishments

Am J Surg. 2021 Nov;222(5):933-936. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.04.012. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Authors

Elana Meer¹, Byron D Hughes², Colin A Martin³, Arturo J Rios-Diaz⁴, Viren Patel¹, Carla M Pugh⁵, Cherisse Berry⁶, Steven C Stain⁷, L D Britt⁸, Sharon L Stein⁹, Paris D Butler¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
² Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
³ Department of Surgery, University of Alabama Birmingham/Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
⁴ Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁵ Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
⁶ Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
⁷ Department of Surgery, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA.
⁸ Department of Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), Norfolk, VA, USA.
⁹ Department of Surgery, University Hospitals/Cleveland Medical Center, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: paris.butler@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

PMID: 33894978
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.04.012

Abstract

Background: The American College of Surgeon (ACS), American Surgical Association (ASA), Association of Women Surgeons (AWS), and Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS) partnered to gain insight into whether inequities found in surgical society presidents may be present earlier.

Methods: ACS, ASA, AWS, and SBAS presidents' CVs were assessed for demographics and scholastic achievements at the time of first faculty appointment. Regression analyses controlling for age were performed to determine relative differences across societies.

Results: 66 of the 68 presidents' CVs were received and assessed (97% response rate). 50% of AWS future presidents were hired as Instructors rather than Assistant professors, compared to 29.4% of SBAS, 25% of ASA and 29.4% of ACS. The future ACS, ASA, and SBAS presidents had more total publications than the AWS presidents, but similar numbers of 1st and Sr. author publications.

Conclusion: Gender inequities in academic surgeon hiring practices and perceived scholastic success may be present at first hire.

Keywords: Leaders in academic surgery; Surgical society presidents; Underrepresented in medicine (UIM); Women in surgery.

MeSH terms

Adult
Career Mobility*
Faculty, Medical / organization & administration
Faculty, Medical / standards*
Female
General Surgery / education*
General Surgery / organization & administration
General Surgery / standards
Humans
Leadership*
Male