A Call for Diversity: Women and Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Education

Abstract

ALTHOUGH Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female graduate of a United States medical school in 1849, more than 170 years later, women continue to struggle for full acceptance and equality within the medical profession. Today, women remain underrepresented at all levels of graduate medical training and professional practice, not only as practitioners but also in academic leadership, 1 Lautenberger DM Dandar VM Raezer CL et al. The State of Women in Academic Medicine: The Pipeline and Pathways to Leadership. Association of. American Medical Colleges. 2014; (Accessed April 28, 2021)https://store.aamc.org/downloadable/download/sample/sample_id/228/ Google Scholar , 2 Toledo P Duce L Adams J et al. Diversity in the American Society of Anesthesiologists leadership. Anesth Analg. 2017; 124: 1611-1616 Crossref PubMed Scopus (50) Google Scholar , 3 Bissing MA Lange EMS Dvaila WF et al. Status of women in academic anesthesiology: A 10-Year update. Anesth Analg. 2019; 128: 137-143 Crossref PubMed Scopus (47) Google Scholar professional advancement, 4 Capdeville M. Gender Disparities in cardiovascular fellowship training among 3 specialties From 2007 to 2017. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2019; 33: 604-620 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar and research and grant awards. 3 Bissing MA Lange EMS Dvaila WF et al. Status of women in academic anesthesiology: A 10-Year update. Anesth Analg. 2019; 128: 137-143 Crossref PubMed Scopus (47) Google Scholar ,5 Pagel PS Freed JK Lien CA. Gender composition and trends of Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia editorial board membership: A 33-Year analysis, 1987-2019. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2019; 33: 3229-3234 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (15) Google Scholar Time to Step Up and Do Our Part to Address Sex Inequalities in Cardiothoracic AnesthesiologyJournal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular AnesthesiaVol. 36Issue 5PreviewStrong female representation within cardiothoracic anesthesiology is critical to patient care, research, and education. However, the number of women in cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship has remained stagnant at fewer than one-third of trainees during the last decade.1 This lack of sex diversity in the cardiothoracic anesthesiology pipeline is problematic and requires in-depth analysis and actionable change.1,2 Concurrently, the adversities encountered by currently practicing female cardiothoracic anesthesiologists have significant implications for the sustainability of sex diversity and also must be identified and addressed. Full-Text PDF