Eponymously named surgical instruments and gender: why representation matters

Abstract

Women continue to be under-represented in most surgical specialties, especially in academic hospitals. Historically, most surgical instruments are named for the surgeon who developed or invented them. A review of surgical instruments was completed to better understand the impact of women innovators in surgery. Eponymous instrument names were cross-referenced to the surgeon for whom they were named through a review of historical texts, medical journals, and online instrument catalogues; an interview was also conducted. Of 458 eponymous instrument names, only three were connected to women: spine surgeon Dr. Nancy Epstein, and ophthalmologists Dr. Bonnie Henderson and Dr. Sheri Rowen. Dr. Sheri Rowen was interviewed to discuss her experience developing new surgical instruments and her career as a female surgeon. This interview highlighted the importance of same-gender role models in surgery, which is supported by the literature; having female surgeon role models is associated with a greater interest in a surgical career for female medical students. Gender-based discrimination has also been shown in the literature to be a barrier against women in surgery. A discussion of opportunities for improving the representation of women in surgery is presented: medical education departments should improve female surgeon representation through lectures, conferences, and meetings; schools should also provide female surgeon mentorship for female medical students.