Kanth Aditi M, Choi Joowon, Martiney Marita, Reghunathan Meera, Gallus Katerina, Chen Wendy
From the Division of Plastic Surgery, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA.
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2025 Jul 18;13(7):e6973. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000006973. eCollection 2025 Jul.
More women are training in plastic surgery, but representation in academia continues to lag, with female plastic surgeons being more likely than their male counterparts to leave academia for another practice type. The aim of the study was to understand why women enter and leave academia.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons Women in Plastic Surgery listserv was solicited for volunteers. Interviewees were selected based on demographics (seniority, region, race, sexual orientation, practice type) to represent a diverse cohort. In accordance with ethnographic qualitative research methods, interviews discussed experiences during training, first job selection and departure, and workplace culture. Responses were anonymized and reported in aggregate.
From 184 respondents, 22 practicing surgeons were selected: 7 in academia, 8 in private practice, and 7 who had left academia. Practice content was more important to those initially choosing academia (50% versus 37.5%), whereas supportive environment and location were more important to those in private practice. Women who stayed in academia were more likely to have female mentorship than those who left (42.8% versus 14.2%). Those who left academia cited perceived gender inequity (85.7%) and lack of flexibility (71.4%). Current satisfaction with workplace culture was highest in the nonacademic practice group (87% extremely or very satisfied).
Factors influencing why female plastic surgeons enter and leave academia include mentorship, practice content, location, and workplace culture. These rich qualitative data are currently being used to design a validated survey tool to further elucidate factors contributing to women leaving academia and propose meaningful solutions.
越来越多的女性接受整形外科学培训，但在学术界的代表性仍滞后，与男性整形医生相比，女性整形医生更有可能离开学术界转而从事其他类型的执业。本研究的目的是了解女性进入和离开学术界的原因。
向美国整形外科学会女性整形医生邮件列表征集志愿者。根据人口统计学特征（资历、地区、种族、性取向、执业类型）选择受访者，以代表不同的群体。按照人种志定性研究方法，访谈讨论了培训期间、首次工作选择和离职以及工作场所文化方面的经历。回答进行了匿名处理并汇总报告。
从184名受访者中，选出22名执业外科医生：7名在学术界，8名在私人执业，7名已离开学术界。实践内容对最初选择学术界的人更重要（50%对37.5%），而支持性环境和地点对私人执业者更重要。留在学术界的女性比离开的女性更有可能有女性导师指导（42.8%对14.2%）。离开学术界的人提到了感知到的性别不平等（85.7%）和缺乏灵活性（71.4%）。非学术执业组对工作场所文化的当前满意度最高（87%极其满意或非常满意）。
影响女性整形医生进入和离开学术界的因素包括导师指导、实践内容、地点和工作场所文化。这些丰富的定性数据目前正用于设计一种经过验证的调查工具，以进一步阐明导致女性离开学术界的因素并提出有意义 的解决方案。
