Gender representation in leadership & research: a 13-year review of the Annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Meetings

Abstract Background The gender disparity in surgical disciplines, specifically in speakers across North American medical and surgical specialty conferences, has been highlighted in recent literature. Improving gender diversity at society meetings and panels may provide many benefits. Our aim was to...

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Main Authors: Grace Yi, Jennifer Payandeh, Dorsa Mavedatnia, Penelope Neocleous, Jacob Davidson, Jennifer Siu, Molly Zirkle, Julie E. Strychowsky, M. Elise Graham, Yvonne Chan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2023-05-01
Series:Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-023-00635-8
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author Grace Yi
Jennifer Payandeh
Dorsa Mavedatnia
Penelope Neocleous
Jacob Davidson
Jennifer Siu
Molly Zirkle
Julie E. Strychowsky
M. Elise Graham
Yvonne Chan
author_facet Grace Yi
Jennifer Payandeh
Dorsa Mavedatnia
Penelope Neocleous
Jacob Davidson
Jennifer Siu
Molly Zirkle
Julie E. Strychowsky
M. Elise Graham
Yvonne Chan
author_sort Grace Yi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The gender disparity in surgical disciplines, specifically in speakers across North American medical and surgical specialty conferences, has been highlighted in recent literature. Improving gender diversity at society meetings and panels may provide many benefits. Our aim was to determine the state of gender diversity amongst presenters and speakers at the annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (CSO) meetings. Methods Scientific programs for the CSO annual meetings from 2008 to 2020 were obtained from the national society website. Participant name, role, gender, location, and subspecialty topic were recorded for all roles other than poster presenter. Gender (male or female) was determined using an online search. The total number of opportunity spots and proportion of women was then calculated. Gender differences were analyzed using chi-square test and logistic regression with odds ratios. Four categories were analyzed: Society Leadership, Invited Speaker Opportunities, Workshop Composition (male-only panels or “manels”, female-only panels, or with at least one female speaker), and Oral Paper Presenters (first authors). Results There were 1874 leadership opportunity spots from 2008 to 2020, of which 18.6% were filled by women. Among elected leadership positions in the society, only 92 unique women filled 738 leadership opportunity spots. 13.2% of workshop chairs, 20.8% of panelists and 22.7% of paper session chairs were female. There was an overall increase in the proportion of leadership positions held by women, from 13.9% of leadership spots in 2008 to 30.1% in 2020. Of the 368 workshops, 61.1% were led by men only, 36.4% by at least 1 female surgeon, and 2.5% by women only. “Manels” have comprised at least 37.5% of workshops each year. Conclusions The proportion of women in speaking roles at the annual CSO meetings has generally increased over time, particularly among panelists, leading to fewer male-only speaking panels. However, there has been a slower rate of growth in the proportion of unique women in speaker roles. There remains an opportunity to increase gender/sex diversity at the major Canadian otolaryngology meeting. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-b975b72e18a147b89ead7ef4dcf5f4142025-08-20T03:23:14ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162023-05-0152111010.1186/s40463-023-00635-8Gender representation in leadership & research: a 13-year review of the Annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology MeetingsGrace Yi0Jennifer Payandeh1Dorsa Mavedatnia2Penelope Neocleous3Jacob Davidson4Jennifer Siu5Molly Zirkle6Julie E. Strychowsky7M. Elise Graham8Yvonne Chan9Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, St. Michael’s HospitalFaculty of Medicine, Queen’s UniversityFaculty of Medicine, University of OttawaSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western UniversityDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, St. Michael’s HospitalDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, St. Michael’s HospitalDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, St. Michael’s HospitalAbstract Background The gender disparity in surgical disciplines, specifically in speakers across North American medical and surgical specialty conferences, has been highlighted in recent literature. Improving gender diversity at society meetings and panels may provide many benefits. Our aim was to determine the state of gender diversity amongst presenters and speakers at the annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (CSO) meetings. Methods Scientific programs for the CSO annual meetings from 2008 to 2020 were obtained from the national society website. Participant name, role, gender, location, and subspecialty topic were recorded for all roles other than poster presenter. Gender (male or female) was determined using an online search. The total number of opportunity spots and proportion of women was then calculated. Gender differences were analyzed using chi-square test and logistic regression with odds ratios. Four categories were analyzed: Society Leadership, Invited Speaker Opportunities, Workshop Composition (male-only panels or “manels”, female-only panels, or with at least one female speaker), and Oral Paper Presenters (first authors). Results There were 1874 leadership opportunity spots from 2008 to 2020, of which 18.6% were filled by women. Among elected leadership positions in the society, only 92 unique women filled 738 leadership opportunity spots. 13.2% of workshop chairs, 20.8% of panelists and 22.7% of paper session chairs were female. There was an overall increase in the proportion of leadership positions held by women, from 13.9% of leadership spots in 2008 to 30.1% in 2020. Of the 368 workshops, 61.1% were led by men only, 36.4% by at least 1 female surgeon, and 2.5% by women only. “Manels” have comprised at least 37.5% of workshops each year. Conclusions The proportion of women in speaking roles at the annual CSO meetings has generally increased over time, particularly among panelists, leading to fewer male-only speaking panels. However, there has been a slower rate of growth in the proportion of unique women in speaker roles. There remains an opportunity to increase gender/sex diversity at the major Canadian otolaryngology meeting. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-023-00635-8Gender diversityWomen in otolaryngologyLeadershipDiversityEquityInclusion
spellingShingle Grace Yi
Jennifer Payandeh
Dorsa Mavedatnia
Penelope Neocleous
Jacob Davidson
Jennifer Siu
Molly Zirkle
Julie E. Strychowsky
M. Elise Graham
Yvonne Chan
Gender representation in leadership & research: a 13-year review of the Annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Meetings
Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Gender diversity
Women in otolaryngology
Leadership
Diversity
Equity
Inclusion
title Gender representation in leadership & research: a 13-year review of the Annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Meetings
title_full Gender representation in leadership & research: a 13-year review of the Annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Meetings
title_fullStr Gender representation in leadership & research: a 13-year review of the Annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Meetings
title_full_unstemmed Gender representation in leadership & research: a 13-year review of the Annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Meetings
title_short Gender representation in leadership & research: a 13-year review of the Annual Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Meetings
title_sort gender representation in leadership research a 13 year review of the annual canadian society of otolaryngology meetings
topic Gender diversity
Women in otolaryngology
Leadership
Diversity
Equity
Inclusion
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-023-00635-8
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