Urology Resident Emory University School of Medicine
Introduction: Urology remains a disproportionately male-physician dominated field, with women physicians comprising only 10% of all practicing urologists and 27% of current urology residents. Understanding the needs and experiences of women residents is essential for developing strategies to recruit and retain more women urologists in independent practice. The primary objective of this study was to identify factors influencing residency training program selection by women residents in urology. The secondary objective was to evaluate the residents’ gender-based experiences during training.
Methods: An anonymous, 15-item web-based electronic survey was distributed between May-July 2021, targeted to all 461 current women U.S. urology residents. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and thematic analysis, respectively.
Results: 147 complete responses were received from women residents representing each of the 8 AUA sections. When asked to rank a series of factors influencing their decision about residency training program selection, 37% of respondents chose geographic location/setting as the most important factor, followed by 27% who selected institutional reputation. Surprisingly, only 3.4% ranked number of women faculty and 0% ranked number of women residents as most important factor in their decision. When asked how their current programs can better foster clinical and academic growth of women residents, the most common responses were increased presence of women faculty and mentorship (36%), increased awareness and elimination of gender bias/harassment in the workplace (33%), and improved family support/maternity leave policies (15%).
Regarding challenges in the workplace, 73.5% of respondents reported experiencing stereotyping of women doctors and 18% reported experiencing problems with maternity leave. In interactions with patients, 97% reported not being recognized as a doctor, 84% reported stereotyping of women doctors, and 78% reported experiencing inappropriate treatment/harassment from male patients.
Conclusions: Women residents face extremely high rates of gender bias and harassment in the workplace. Geographic setting and institutional reputation were the most important factors for residency program selection by women urology residents. Although overlooked as a priority during the initial application process, current women urology residents seek increased women faculty presence, leadership and mentorship during residency to foster clinical and academic growth.
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