Abstract 19107: Variation in Women's Representation Among Leadership Positions in Pediatric Cardiology Programs Across North America

Abstract

Introduction: Despite several years of gender parity entering the field of pediatric cardiology, representation of women leaders trails that of their male colleagues. We sought to better understand the variation in women in leadership roles in our field. Methods: Pediatric cardiology programs that participate in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database with &gt 5 cardiologists were included. Data regarding gender of physicians in 16 leadership positions was collected. We analyzed the association of women in leadership roles with center size (based on surgical volume), geographic region, presence of fellowship, and gender of division chief and department chair. Results: Of the 99 centers in this study, a median of 13 (IQR 10-15) roles/center were identified, with 4 (IQR 3-6), 33.3% held by women. The lowest representation was in pediatric cardiology chiefs: 13% (table). Programs led by women chiefs had more women in leadership roles (48% vs 35%, p=0.01). In the US, the Northeast has more %women leaders than the West, South, or Midwest: 43% vs 33, 32, 34% respectively, p=0.035. Fellowship program or a woman department chair were not associated with %women leaders. The %women varied among the different sections: lowest in invasive subspecialties, interventional (17%) and EP (20%), and highest in fetal directors (66%). Fewer cardiac MRI leads in medium or high-volume centers are women compared to low volume centers (16 vs 39%, p=0.02), otherwise no volume-based differences were seen. Conclusions: Women hold fewer leadership positions across most subsections of pediatric cardiology programs, with more equitable distribution at centers led by women division chiefs. Future studies will define barriers to leadership equity.