Today, there are more women in health care leadership roles than ever before, yet their representation still lags behind their male counterparts as gender disparities persist in health care organizations around the world. 

“Things have been changing, but there is still a ‘glass ceiling’ in health care in terms of women taking on leadership roles. Not many women have managed to smash that glass ceiling yet,” explains Fiona Myint, FRCS, MA (Clin Ed), LLM, SFHEA, a vascular surgeon who serves as program co-director of the Harvard Medical School Surgical Leadership Program.  

Myint points out that women typically earn less than men in comparable roles with similar experience. Women are often passed over for promotions and receive fewer grant offerings. And while gender disparities can impact people in all service lines and specialties, female surgeons generally face a unique set of challenges that can make it difficult to grow into leadership positions. 

Challenges Facing Female Surgeons

Part of the challenge for female surgeons stems from the extended length of surgical training programs, Myint explains. By the time women finally launch their careers, they may need to take time off to have children, raise their families, and care for elderly parents. With so many commitments on their plates, female surgeons may be viewed by their organizations as less committed to their careers and may be passed over for key leadership roles. Salaries for female surgeons may not rise as steadily as for their male colleagues due to the time they take off for caregiving, causing even more disparities in pay between women and men. In addition, female surgeons may have fewer resources allocated to them through their institutions, be offered less protected time for research, and find a lack of strong mentorship to help guide their careers. 

Seven Steps to Improve Gender Equity

Despite these challenges, Myint stresses that there are ways for female surgeons to address gender inequities and position themselves for leadership opportunities. Here are her suggestions for leveling the playing field:

1. Believe in yourself and the value you bring to the table. “Combat stereotypes by demonstrating your commitment to your career,” Myint says. Remember that female surgeons with families are often doing as much, or even more, work than male surgeons, and are also extremely skilled at juggling multiple priorities, which can be an asset in leadership roles. Be confident about the value you bring to your position, and don’t be discouraged by anyone who tries to overlook your contributions. “As female surgeons, it’s important to find ways to demonstrate our determination to overcome roadblocks and be successful,” she says. 
2. Draw on lived experiences. “Women have many lived experiences that we can draw on to optimize our results and our careers. All of the different roles we play in our personal lives [and the ways we problem-solve on a daily basis] can translate into real benefits in the workplace if we think about it strategically,” she says. For instance, the ability to effectively juggle multiple priorities can be an advantage in a leadership capacity for a busy and fast-paced surgical team. 
3. Identify available resources and support. Myint suggests that female surgeons look for resources within their organizations that can support them. Some health systems have programs that help mothers who are on maternity leave to stay connected with their colleagues. In addition, some organizations offer training programs that can support health care providers in building new skills and strengthening existing ones. Female surgeons can benefit from tapping into such internal programs by connecting with outside resources that support women in health care.
4. Seek out mentors—and serve as a mentor yourself. “When I trained in surgery, I didn’t have any female role models or any women to look up to,” Myint says. But she notes that having successful female figures to emulate or providing mentorship to other women would have been helpful. “That’s why we need more women in surgical specialties to nurture students and provide them with support.” If there are no female leaders within your organization, look to advocacy groups and associations to connect with others who can share their strategies and provide encouragement, and also make an effort to serve as a mentor to younger surgeons. 
5. Hone your business skills. While your surgical skills are what got you to this point in your career, strengthening key business skills can help you move forward. “It’s really important to have good negotiation skills to help people with different views find common ground. It’s also good to know how to manage your team and develop your own personal branding so you can pitch your strengths in the most effective way,” she says.
6. Build your network. Women in surgical leadership roles can help support one another, and they can provide advice and resources to help their colleagues around the world navigate challenges on the job and grow their careers. “It’s very easy to be isolated as a female surgeon because we’re less likely to socialize after work if we have children to rush home to,” Myint says. This means you can miss out on strengthening connections with colleagues, and you may be out of the loop when it comes to learning about new developments at work or new job opportunities. The best way to fill in the gaps is by making an effort to create and maintain networks with colleagues and stay in close touch.
7. Address sexual harassment. The problem of sexual harassment on the job has been in the news a lot recently, and female surgeons certainly are not immune—and in some cases, they are even more susceptible to becoming victims. “Sexual harassment can present in many ways—from someone constantly cracking sexist jokes to a full-on physical assault. Regardless of how it occurs, any case of sexual harassment is upsetting and shouldn’t happen,” Myint says. “While there is growing intolerance for sexual harassment in general, I’m disappointed at how slow the health care field has been to address this problem.” She says that women can play an important role in banding together and speaking out when something occurs. Look for resources from groups such as the Association of Women Surgeons to help you in your efforts to protect yourself and make strides in changing the culture for the better.

Women in Health Care: Breaking Barriers

There’s a perception that women must be careful about what they say and do to ensure they are sending the right message and creating the right impression. To this end, Myint advises: “Be quietly confident, have your say, be well prepared, and know what you’re talking about.” This can help people see you as strong and knowledgeable. 

“Female surgeons who take the time to build their strengths outside of the operating room will be well positioned when opportunities arise,” she adds.