title: Women in academic surgery: why is the playing field still not level?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to explore career satisfaction and advancement for women in academic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 48-item web-based survey was emailed to women surgeons in academic centers across Canada, exploring career advancement, family planning, mentorship, discrimination, and career satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey response rate was 38% (81 of 212); 18% of participants felt they experienced gender discrimination in medical school, 36% in residency, 12% in fellowship, and 41% as staff surgeons. More than half felt that their gender had played a role in the career challenges they faced. Responses to open-ended questions suggested that many surgeons struggled to balance their academic careers with family life. Despite this, participants rated their career satisfaction very highly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There remain ongoing challenges for women in academic surgery including lack of gender equality, appropriate mentorship, and accommodations for surgeons with families. Continued advancement of women in academic surgery is dependent on addressing these concerns.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue Toronto, Suite 3-130, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Natashia M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Seemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Helen Alyx
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue Toronto, Suite 3-130, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Carol-Anne E
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue Toronto, Suite 3-130, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desjardins
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue Toronto, Suite 3-130, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Surgery, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: tulin.cil@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Tulin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002321:Career Choice; D002322:Career Mobility; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology*; D063507:Sexism; D066231:Surgeons / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Academic; Gender; Surgeons; Women