Medical Student Research Forum Posters

As medicine diversifies, the importance of peer-based mentorship is often cited as the driving force behind inspiring women to enter surgical specialties. This driving force may be further influenced by the gender of the mentor, especially within male-dominated fields.

There has remained a paucity of female representation in Orthopedic Surgery. Despite the proportion of females in the 2019 US medical student graduation class increasing to 48%, Orthopedic Surgery retains the lowest percentage of female residents of all surgical specialties (15% in 2019).

This gender disparity can make it challenging for medical students and residents to find mentors/role models with whom they identify and from whom they can obtain the guidance to successfully navigate career choices and tackle potentially gender-nuanced situations.