Women Surgeons: Barriers and Solutions

OBJECTIVE

Underrepresentation and undertreatment of women in surgery continues to be highly prevalent, with major barriers to improvement. The aim of the study was to review the current state of women surgeons in Poland.

METHODS

Information from the various Polish databases on women surgeons in nine medical universities in general, oncological, vascular, thoracic, and cardiac surgery was retrospectively evaluated. Demographics of residents and staff surgeons, academic ranks and leadership positions at universities, in surgical societies and on scientific journals editorial boards were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used.

RESULTS

In 2020, 61 % of 3668 graduates of Polish medical universities were women. In five surgical specialties 11.9% (1,243 of 10,411) of the surgeons were women, with the lowest numbers in cardiac (5.6%) and in vascular surgery (6.4%); 40.4% of general surgery residents were women, less in vascular (18.4%) and thoracic surgery (24%), more in oncological surgery (28.7%). In 35 surgical departments of nine universities all department chairs were men, all full professors were men; 7 % of associate professors, 16% of assistant professors were women. Rectors of all universities were men, 27% of the vice-rectors were women. In the senates and university councils, 39% and 35%, respectively, were women. Presidents, vice presidents, and secretaries of surgical societies and Editor-in-Chief of four surgical journals were all men.

CONCLUSIONS

Polish women surgeons face major difficulties with representation in surgery, in departmental, institutional, and societal leadership, and on scientific journal editorial boards. A multi-faceted approach to correct these serious inequalities is urgently needed.

Fake-news-free evidence-based communication for proper vein-lymphatic disease management

Published scientific evidence demonstrate the current spread of healthcare misinformation in the most popular social networks and unofficial communication channels. Up to 40% of the medical websites were identified reporting inappropriate information, moreover being shared more than 450,000 times in a 5-year-time frame. The phenomenon is particularly spread in infective diseases medicine, oncology and cardiovascular medicine. The present document is the result of a scientific and educational endeavor by a worldwide group of top experts who selected and analyzed the major issues and related evidence-based facts on vein and lymphatic management. A section of this work is entirely dedicated to the patients and therefore written in layman terms, with the aim of improving public vein-lymphatic awareness. The part dedicated to the medical professionals includes a revision of the current literature, summing up the statements that are fully evidence-based in venous and lymphatic disease management, and suggesting future lines of research to fulfill the still unmet needs. The document has been written following an intense digital interaction among dedicated working groups, leading to an institutional project presentation during the Universal Expo in Dubai, in the occasion of the v-WINter 2022 meeting.