Gender Disparities Among Burn Surgery Leadership

BACKGROUND: Gender disparities have been described in the plastic surgery and general surgery literature, but no data has been reported in burn surgery. The aim of this study is to determine gender disparities among burn surgery leadership. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. Burn surgeons included were directors of American Burn Association (ABA)-verified burn centers, past presidents of the ABA and International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI), and editors of the Journal of Burn Care & Research, Burns, Burns & Trauma, Annals of Burns & Fire Disasters, and the International Journal of Burns and Trauma. Training, age, H-index, and academic level and leadership position were compared among surgeons identified. RESULTS: Among the 69 ABA and ISBI past presidents, 203 burn journals' editorial board members, and 71 burn unit directors, females represented only 2.9 percent, 10.5 percent, and 17 percent, respectively. Among burn unit directors, females completed fellowship training more recently than males (female = 2006, male = 1999, p < 0.02), have lower H-indexes (female = 8.6, male = 17.3, p = 0.03), and are less represented as full professors (female = 8.3 percent, male = 42.4 percent, p = 0.026). There were no differences in age, residency, research fellowship, or number of fellowships. CONCLUSION: Gender disparities exist in burn surgery and are highlighted at the leadership level, even though female surgeons have a similar age, residency training and other background factors. However, gender diversity in burn surgery may improve as females in junior faculty positions advance in their careers.