Frontiers in Academic Surgery: The Five M’s

The Female Pediatric Surgeon

“…41 Effective mentors have many roles in the advancement of their mentees: they can act as role models, are a source of professional advice and training guidance, provide an existing network of contacts, and can facilitate career advancement opportunities. 42,43 Actual reality shows a lack of female mentors and role models for women in academic surgery. 6,42,44 This lack of role models in surgery in general, and academic surgery in particular, has been discussed in different articles as a possible explanation for the underrepresentation of women in surgical academia.…”

“…42,43 Actual reality shows a lack of female mentors and role models for women in academic surgery. 6,42,44 This lack of role models in surgery in general, and academic surgery in particular, has been discussed in different articles as a possible explanation for the underrepresentation of women in surgical academia. 6,8,12,39 The negative loop of few female role models in academic surgery that results in few female students interested in surgery will hardly change the trend of gender inequalities in surgery.…”

Four types of gender bias affecting women surgeons and their cumulative impact

“…These include life balancing, workload and parental leave entitlements; the availability of role models and mentors; and the impact of sexual discrimination and harassment. [6][7][8][9][10] However, recent work on the under-representation of women in other fields finds that subtle factors such as implicit bias are also significant. [11][12][13][14][15] Implicit biases are biases that individuals are unaware of, or not consciously able to control.…”

Ws01 the Swim (Surgeons and Women's Initiative to Mentor) Program

“…Role models and mentors strongly influenced respondent's surgical career choices and progression. Under‐exposure to same‐sex role models and a lack of available mentors in academic surgery were identified as barriers to pursuing academic careers (1). Aim: To pilot SWIM as a formal, surgical mentorship program targeting young female surgical trainees in Western Australia from March through November, 2009, with a view to long‐term continuation. Objectives: The goals of SWIM are to establish a professional network of female surgeons in WA; mentor and guide female surgical trainees; raise the profile of women in academic surgery; encourage female surgical trainees to participate in health and medical research; increase the number of female academic surgeons within the School of Surgery at the University of Western Australia. Methods: Participants briefed and paired; regular, face‐to‐face meetings; relationship driven by the trainee; guest speaker evening; networking breakfast; e‐newsletter; annual research publication award. Expected Outcomes: Participation will result in surgical trainees gaining support and career advice whilst building professional networks; mentors gaining personal satisfaction, identifying protégés for future collaboration and broadening their skill sets; the promotion of gender equity and diversity within the UWA School of Surgery.…”

“…Role models and mentors strongly influenced respondent's surgical career choices and progression. Under‐exposure to same‐sex role models and a lack of available mentors in academic surgery were identified as barriers to pursuing academic careers (1).…”