Navigating Pregnancy and Parenthood During Otolaryngology Training and Beyond

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: In a recently published systematic review examining data surrounding pregnancy and surgical residency, it was noted that pregnant surgical residents experienced a high rate of obstetrical complications compared to the general population. Residency-related predictors of complications included (i) working more than 6 overnight call shifts, and (ii) working more than 60-hour weeks. In addition, the review identified a common theme across published literature: the prevalence of negative attitudes and perceptions toward pregnant residents despite data showing no difference in attrition, caseload, or exam pass rate compared to non-pregnant residents. Another study looking at pregnant female resident perspectives on pregnancy during surgical training showed that 39% of survey respondents strongly considered leaving surgical training and 29.5% of respondents stated they would discourage female medical students from pursuing a surgical specialty. Given both the lack of and the value of gender diversity in surgical fields, concerning findings like these must be explored. Ongoing discussions on how to counter-act the perceived stigmas related to pregnancy/motherhood and how to better support child-bearing residents/attendings are imperative to attracting and retaining female surgeons in our subspecialty. Please join Dr. Dana Crosby (Chair/PD at SIU), Dr. Tiffany Glazer (PD at UW-Madison), and Dr. Ebone Bady (PGY 4 at UMN) as we discuss the related challenges and possible solutions to overcoming those challenges, including a conversation regarding actionable steps and a proposed pregnancy protocol that departments can utilize to improve the safety of pregnant surgeons.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Objective 1: Identify
Identify the professional and personal barriers and obstacles that female surgeons face during pregnancy and motherhood

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Objective 2: Strategize
Discuss strategies on how colleagues, staff, and faculty can provide support and help remediate the identified challenges that the current surgical culture places on pregnancy and motherhood

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Objective 3: Implement
Recognize the need to create and implement formal policies to address the identified challenges and effectuate discussed strategies

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: Female surgeons face many challenges in navigating pregnancy and motherhood. This panel presentation aims to elicit a discussion among trainees and leadership to identify strategies and policies that would provide meaningful and measurable support to pregnant trainees and attendings.