Women Anesthesiologists and Intensivists: Their Crucial Role
Addressing Challenges and Celebrating Successes
The Importance of Women in the Field of Anesthesia and Critical Care
The role of women in the field of anesthesia and critical care is fundamental and ever-evolving. In the United States, in 2017, 33% of critical care fellows and 26% of critical care physicians were women, highlighting a significant but still not fully equal presence in the field. Figures like Dr. Hannah Wunsch, Professor of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Toronto, Dr. Dolores B. Njoku, Professor of Anesthesiology at Washington University in St. Louis, and Dr. Natalia Ivascu Girardi, Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, are just a few of the many women who have achieved prominent positions in this field.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite progress, women in anesthesia and critical care still face various challenges. Gender disparity persists in terms of career opportunities and advancement. The Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists (SOCCA) has initiated efforts to increase diversity and inclusion on its board by adding two additional seats to work on board diversity and creating guidelines to encourage diverse members to run for board positions.
Initiatives for Progress
SOCCA’s Women in Critical Care group is launching several initiatives to promote female presence in the field. These include social media outreach, networking, motivational talks, podcasts, and webinars on topics such as well-being and work-life balance, as well as a white paper with suggestions and input on how societies and organizations can progress in gender diversity. Involvement and support from colleagues and organizations are crucial for the success of these initiatives.
Future Outlook
The future outlook for women in anesthesia and critical care is promising, with an increasing number of women in leadership and research positions. However, there is still much work to be done to address the reasons for the numerical disparity between women and men in the field. The goal is to redefine and reinvent criteria for success, supporting flexibility in work hours and promotion criteria, as well as providing mentorship and funding for research and educational trajectories, allowing women to balance family responsibilities and academic roles without having to sacrifice one for the other.