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Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 5/2021

01-10-2021 | Original Article

Challenges to Professional Success for Women Plastic Surgeons: An International Survey

Authors: Nina S. Naidu, Patricia A. Patrick, Dana Bregman, Dana Jianu

Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery | Issue 5/2021

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Abstract

Background

Female plastic surgeons face specific challenges in their careers that impact lifestyle and professional choices.

Objective

The authors sought to delineate these specific issues further through means of an anonymous survey and to suggest areas for improvement.

Methods

In August 2017, a link to an online email questionnaire via SurveyMonkey.com was sent to 398 women members of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, which included questions on demographics, surgical training, practice characteristics and preferences, leadership and professional activities, marriage and childcare, financial status, workplace sexism and sexual harassment and surgeon attitudes.

Results

A total of 138 female plastic surgeons responded to the survey for a response rate of 34.7%. Critical issues most cited by respondents included work-life balance and childcare responsibilities, sexual harassment and the lack of gender parity at meetings.

Conclusions

Plastic surgery training programs, institutions and societies should acknowledge the additional challenges that female surgeons face. The greatest areas for improvement include the balance of work and family responsibilities, addressing the prevalence of sexual harassment and improved representation at scientific meetings.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.​springer.​com/​00266.
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Metadata
Title
Challenges to Professional Success for Women Plastic Surgeons: An International Survey
Authors
Nina S. Naidu
Patricia A. Patrick
Dana Bregman
Dana Jianu
Publication date
01-10-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery / Issue 5/2021
Print ISSN: 0364-216X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5241
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-021-02171-0

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