xRead - Mentorship in Otolaryngology Trainees (March 2026)

1282610 EAR XXX10.1177/01455613241282610Ear, Nose & Throat Journal DeSisto et al. research-article 2024

Original Research

Ear, Nose & Throat Journal 1–7 © The Author(s) 2024 Article reuse guidelines:

You Can’t Be What You Can’t See: The Progression of Women in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

https://doi.org/10.1177/01455613241282610 sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/01455613241282610 journals.sagepub.com/home/ear

Nicole G. DeSisto, MD 1 , Rahul K. Sharma, MD 1 , Elizabeth S. Longino, MD 1 , Alexandra S. Ortiz, MD 1 , Leslie R. Kim, MD, MPH 2 , Sarah L. Rohde, MD 1 , and Shiayin F. Yang, MD 1

Abstract Objective: To examine trends in the gender composition of residents and faculty in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency programs in the United States and to investigate the correlation between women’s representation in leadership positions and the proportion of women faculty and residents. Methods: A literature review was first performed to analyze trends in the gender composition of residents and faculty in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) residency programs. Current residency programs were then identified using the Electronic Residency Application Service 2023 Participating Specialties and Programs website. The following data was collected from each program website: gender of associated medical school dean, gender of department chair, gender of residency program director, and total number and gender of fellowship directors, faculty, and residents. Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fischer’s exact test were used to analyze relationships between the number of women in leadership positions and the proportion of women faculty and residents. Results: An increase in the number of women chairs, residency program directors, residents, and faculty over the past decade is documented across published literature. One hundred twenty three current academic residency programs were identified. Women accounted for 42%, 30%, 27%, and 8% of current residents, residency program directors, faculty, and department chairs, respectively. Department chair gender was significantly correlated with number of women faculty ( P = .01). Any women in a leadership position were correlated with a statistically significant increase in median percent of women faculty ( P = .006). Conclusion: Further understanding of how the mentorship of women promotes gender equity is necessary to promote gender diversity in OHNS.

Keywords women in medicine, mentorship, promotion, academic medicine, leadership

Introduction The number of women entering medical school has steadily increased since 2003. In 2021, 55.5% of medical school matriculants and 46.4% of resident physicians in the United States were women. 1 Despite this, few women reach top leadership positions in academic medicine. In 2019, women made up 41% of academic physicians in the United States but only accounted for 18% of medical school deans and department chairs. 2 Furthermore, a lack of women in leadership positions is more prevalent in gen eral surgery and most surgical specialties. In Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS), women represented 36% of residents as of 2019. 2 Although women also represented about 36% of full-time academic

OHNS faculty at this time, multiple studies have demon strated a decline in the proportion of women leaders as aca demic rank increases. 3-5 In 2020, women Otolaryngologists held 26% of residency program directorships, 14.7% of 1 Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA 2 Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA Received: May 22, 2024; revised: July 22, 2024; accepted: August 22, 2024 Corresponding Author: Shiayin F. Yang, MD, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1215 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Email: Shiayin.yang@vumc.org

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