Birth Trends and Factors Affecting Childbearing Among Thoracic Surgeons

Gender and Cardiothoracic Surgery Training: Specialty Interests, Satisfaction, and Career Pathways

“…As recently documented by a survey of CT trainees and faculty that found 98% of women in training delay childbearing and have fewer children because of the perception that their career would be adversely affected (82%) [3], in this survey graduating women were much less likely to have children (19% versus 49%, p < 0.001) and less likely to be married (26% versus 62%, p < 0.001) than their male counterparts. Our field is not unique in this regard.…”

“…Certainly, some institutions have paid special attention to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women [22], recognizing that successful women in academia are crucial for providing the mentorship and role models for female trainees. Indeed, most respondents to the recent survey on childbearing in CT surgery felt the most important issue related to recruitment of women into the field was mentorship [3]. Interestingly, a survey from 1996 found that men were less likely than women to encourage women to pursue a surgical career (3.1 versus 2.3 on 4-point scale, p < 0.01), with almost one-half responding that they would "never" or "almost never" encourage a woman toward a surgical career [18].…”

“…Approximately one-half of women thought having children would be a career barrier (versus 5% of men, p < 0.001), but career satisfaction and preparation were not different between the genders [2]. In the limited data available pertaining to women in CT surgery training, one study examined issues related to childbearing [3], finding that women in training delay childbearing and have fewer children because of the perception that their career would be adversely affected. However, broader differences between the genders undergoing CT surgery training, such as specialty interest, pursuit of additional training, career and training satisfaction, and intention to have a research career, have not been examined.…”

We have met the enemy; the enemy is us

“…3 Challenges of childbearing are biologically unique to women and occur disproportionately more often among female cardiothoracic surgeons. 9 We must recognize that issues such as infertility, pregnancy complications, and lactation needs will always be specific to women. Efforts to support women through such events are vital in acknowledging their role as important contributors to our workforce, and such progress is mandatory to ensuring that the brightest and best trainees comprise the future of our field.Taken together, Stephens and Fiedler 3 and Freystaetter and colleagues 4 provide practical and complementary approaches to enhancing the success of women in cardiothoracic surgery.…”

A call for cease-fire: We can only move forward together

“…3 Challenges of childbearing are biologically unique to women and occur disproportionately more often among female cardiothoracic surgeons. 9 We must recognize that issues such as infertility, pregnancy complications, and lactation needs will always be specific to women. Efforts to support women through such events are vital in acknowledging their role as important contributors to our workforce, and such progress is mandatory to ensuring that the brightest and best trainees comprise the future of our field.…”