DDS Perspective: Reflections of a Woman in Gastroenterology

Abstract

When I finished my gastroenterology fellowship in 1999, only about 10% of the gastroenterologic (GI) attending physicians were women [1]. I always considered that an advantage, not an obstacle. At least 50% of GI patients are women, and women prefer female endoscopists [2-6]. I quickly realized that as a recent female GI graduate, I might have better career opportunities than my male colleagues. In 1999, multiple GI practices were recruiting women because that is what their patients demanded [2-4]. While there were long waiting lists to see the sole female endoscopist in a given practice, many male endoscopists were searching for patients. In general, women feel more comfortable talking about gas, bloating, diarrhea, pelvic pain, and menstrual symptoms with other women. I have heard male senior gastroenterologists say that only female gastroenterologists should care for female patients. Yet by relegating "women's GI issues" to women physicians, the medical establishment diminishes not only female patients and their problems, but also the science behind the practice of medicine. A scientific approach to illness accounts for differences among all people and respects all patients regardless of gender. Women gastroenterologists should have been equally compensated, but that was far from the case in 1999 and the early 2000s. Like the US women's soccer team members who are widely popular and have gained world recognition with multiple stunning victories but are paid a pittance compared with the US men's soccer team, women gastroenterologists have been consistently undervalued and undercompensated. Although I was specifically recruited as an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) expert and not a specialist in women's health (which was not thought to be a legitimate field at the time), my starting salary was significantly less

Gender dynamics in education and practice of gastroenterology

“…Furthermore, the retention and promotion of women in gastroenterology is imperative, particularly in light of demonstrated preferences for female endoscopists among female patients, and higher adenoma detection rates among female endoscopists compared with their male peers. 6,[15][16][17][18] In addition, favorable outcomes for patients of female physicians have been demonstrated in the surgical and internal medicine literature. [19][20][21]…”

“…4 Disparities in representation in academic, organizational, and practice leadership and pay, as well as complexities introduced in pregnancy and child-rearing, have disproportionately affected women across a multitude of specialties, including gastroenterology. [5][6][7][8] These challenges have been demonstrated to have an impact on job satisfaction and perceptions of work-life balance. 9 Gastroenterology represents a unique opportunity to study the impact of gender; although it is a subspecialty of internal medicine, intensive, procedural education is necessary.…”

“…Thank ▢ My injury required that I take time off from endoscopy (1) ▢ I underwent surgery for my injury (2) ▢ I underwent physical therapy for my injury (3) ▢ I had to take medication to treat my injury (4) ▢ I am not able to perform procedures at the same capacity as I was before my injury (5) ▢ None of the above (6) Display This Question: If What is your current level of training? Z Attending physician Q50 How comfortable do you feel in using tactile instruction to teach endoscopy to fellows, from 1 (not comfortable at all) to 100 (very comfortable)?…”