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“She
Can Do It!” Women orthopaedic patients,
doctors continue to grow
Newswise — Today more than 90 percent of orthopaedic surgeons
are men. This is a startling statistic given
these facts: The number of women orthopaedic
patients continues to rise, and women now
comprise more than 50 percent of medical
school classes, according to the American
Association of Medical Colleges.
In addition, women represent:
• 3 percent of board-certified orthopaedic
surgeons
• less than 10 percent of all orthopaedic
residents nationwide
“It is very important to the public at large that more women
become involved in the practice of
orthopaedics,” said Mary I. O’Connor, MD.
Dr. O’Connor is an associate professor and
department chair of orthopaedic surgery at
the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.
She noted, “If we work to increase diversity within the
orthopaedic workforce, it stands to reason
we will probably have more awareness and
sensitivity to gender and racial difference
across the board.
"I feel it will also help
to decrease health-care disparities and
improve overall health, which translates
into better care for all our patients.”
Increasing diversity has been an ongoing effort and a
principle issue for the Ruth Jackson
Orthopaedic Society (RJOS). Established in
1983, RJOS fosters support and serves as a
network for women orthopaedic surgeons to
share their common experiences.
“Today one
of our biggest challenges is just getting
women medical students to understand that
they can have a rich and rewarding career as
an orthopaedic surgeon,” Dr. O’Connor said.
“I feel on some level young women are still
given negative messages on surgical
training, especially orthopaedic training.
"We are here to tell them that orthopaedics
is a fabulous profession, and as orthopaedic
surgeons they can really help patients
improve their quality of life.”
“She Can Do It!—Increasing the Number of Women in Orthopaedic
Surgery” will be presented at a media
briefing to be held at the 75th Annual
Meeting of the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), at the Moscone
Convention Center, South Mezzanine, on
Thursday, Mar. 6, 2008, at 10:45 a.m., in
Room 224.
Dr. O’Connor moderates a very distinguished panel that
includes Lisa Canada, MD, who will discuss a
book she co-wrote with Dr. O’Connor,
entitled The RJOS Guide for Women in
Orthopaedic Surgery. Ann Van Heest, MD, will
present the most up-to-date numbers of women
in orthopaedic residency programs. Sharon
Hame, MD, incoming president of the Ruth
Jackson Orthopaedic Society will share the
Society’s vision for the future.
Claudia Thomas, MD, the recipient of the 2008 AAOS Diversity
Award and the first black female orthopaedic
surgeon, along with 2008 Miss Black USA Ms.
Kalilah Allen-Harris, who is also a medical
student pursing a career in orthopaedic
surgery, will round out the panel. Both
women will discuss their personal and
professional experiences in the field.
“I believe that the future of orthopaedics will directly
depend on how we address the specific issue
of women entering the orthopaedic
profession, for us as surgeons and for our
patients,” Dr. O’Connor said. “We need to
create a culture that welcomes and supports
women as equal and valued partners.”
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