EP174/#1009 Women leadership in gynecologic oncology departments in Israel and in the United States

Objectives

In Israel a there is a scarcity of women in leadership positions in academic medicine despite their increasing numbers in medical training. We aim to study the proportion of women in leaderships role in Gynecologic Oncology in Israel in comparison to other places of practice.

Methods

A cross sectional study of Gynecologic Oncology departments in Israel and the United States (USA) in 2022. We accessed internet websites information regarding personnel staff and leadership positions in Gynecologic Oncology departments. We searched all hospitals in Israel which reclaim to have a Gynecologic Oncology service and all USA medical centers which carry a Fellowship program in Gynecologic Oncology reported by the Society for Gynecologic Oncology (SGO). Data was compared using univariate analysis.

Results

Overall, we included 21 medical centers in Israel and 49 Gynecologic Oncology departments in the USA. The representation of women in leadership position in Israel was lower as compared to the USA: 4 (19.0%) vs. 23 (46.9%), Odds Ratio 95% Confidence Interval 0.26 (0.07–0.90), p=0.028.

Conclusions

The proportion of women in senior Gynecologic Oncology positions in Israel is significantly lower compared to the USA. Reasons for this gender bias should be thoroughly investigated and addressed. An effort should be made to overcome gender barriers and to reach gender equality in Gynecologic Oncology as well as all other fields of medicine.