Women treating lung cancer: a narrative review

Abstract

: A lack of women in leadership positions is a common problem across medical specialties that treat lung cancer. Academic medicine appears to be falling behind science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in eliminating gender differences in promotion. Barriers to advancement in thoracic surgery, an essential specialty in the multidisciplinary team required to care for patients with lung cancer, include length of training, discrimination and harassment during training, difficulty balancing personal life and career, and a lack of role models. Fewer than 30% of section and division chiefs and <20% of department chairs are women. Very few women have achieved the position of full professor in a surgery department or department chairman. Addressing barriers to the academic advancement of female oncologists and thoracic surgeons may facilitate equity and improve collaborative research efforts, given the value that diversity brings to team endeavors. The quality of care and the clinical outcomes provided by women physicians are at least equivalent to those of men. There is a strong support from major international societies to increase the role of women in many specialties important to lung cancer treatment by promoting mentorship and equal career opportunities. Additionally, organizations, such as Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) and Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) chapters, specifically focus their efforts on empowering women physicians and surgeons.