(035) WOMEN IN PROSTHETIC UROLOGY: MENTORSHIP, SPONSORSHIP, AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Mentorship is a dynamic, reciprocal personal relationship in which a more experienced member of the organization (mentor), acts as a guide, role model, teacher, and sponsor of a less experienced person (mentee). Sponsorship involves the mentor making a personal investment in the advancement of the mentee. Women currently in and looking to enter prosthetic urology are not afforded the same quality or quantity of these dynamic relationships compared to men. Objective The goals of this manuscript are to discuss obstacles and barriers faced by women in prosthetic urology, highlight the benefits of mentorship and sponsorship in advancing the careers of women in this field, and provide recommendations for creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for women to excel in prosthetic urology. Methods Six authors carefully reviewed full-text, published articles related to the climate of [women in urology], [prosthetic urology], and available [mentorship], [sponsorship], and [leadership], and data from the 2022 American Urologic Association (AUA) census. Thirty-two sources were included. Results Urology and specifically, prosthetic urology, has a long history of being male-prominent. Several factors play into this truth, including gender roles, societal influences, implicit biases, medical history, and a lack of early exposure, mentorship, and sponsorship. Despite strides made in gender equity in medicine, women remain underrepresented in urology making up only 11.6% of practicing urologists in the United States. In subspecialties such as prosthetic urology, women make up even less of the pool. These factors also contribute to the lack of women in leadership positions. As of 2023, women occupy just 3 of the 13 board member positions and 7 of the 29 committee chair positions in the SMSNA. Conclusions Implementing successful mentorship involves recognizing the gender disparities that exist in prosthetic urology, having male mentors and sponsors, and breaking the traditional mentor-mentee hierarchies. Additionally, mentees can foster effective mentorship by establishing SMART goals and getting involved in women affinity groups. By creating an inclusive, diverse environment that not only welcomes, but mentors, and sponsors women, prosthetic urology can harness its full potential. Disclosure No.