In a male dominated field, taking on leadership roles in orthopedic surgery as a woman is rare. However, Leesa Galatz, MD, the System Chair of Orthopaedics at the New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System has transcended this barrier and now leads one of the top orthopedic programs in the country.
As the only woman to hold an orthopedic chair position at a major academic center in the United States, Dr. Galatz is discussing the gender gap within the field and emphasizing the importance of introducing women medical students to orthopedics early in their education.
Question: What is the ratio between men and women in orthopedic surgery?
Dr. Leesa Galatz: Talking about residents, in 2014 women made up around 14 percent. Since then, the numbers have been going up. This is compared to data gathered between 2006 and 2007 that showed women made up 11 percent of all residents. And if you look at the number of women who matched
orthopedic surgery in their residencies in 2017, they totaled 15 percent.
When you look at practicing orthopedic surgeons in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons women make up around 5 percent. I think early exposure is one of the keys to increasing the percentage of women in orthopedics. Being able to see other women succeed in orthopedics, shows female residents
and medical students a career in orthopedic surgery is achievable.
Q: Do you see more women entering/studying orthopedics?
LG: Slowly the number of women entering orthopedics is increasing and it is very gratifying to see. The Perri Initiative is one program that has created a snowball effect toward women choosing orthopedic surgery. The program gives high school women early exposure to orthopedic surgery. High school students
are able to get hands-on experience with (saw) bones and going into the field. It has had a positive impact on getting them interested in science and medicine.
Q: What are the factors hindering women from studying orthopedic surgery?
LG:If you look at the hurdles, women do not have many role models when choosing a career path in orthopedic surgery. Overall there is a lack of senior faculty who are females. So, when women are completing medical school and their residencies, they are not exposed to other women in orthopedics. Also, there is
always some bias. Intrinsic bias comes into play when residents are choosing their specialties. We in orthopedics need to change this stigma.
Q: What motivated you to choose orthopedics as a specialty?
LG: Early in my schooling, I was exposed to athletics and had an interest in science. I gravitated toward orthopedics once I got to medical school. When I looked at lifestyle and happiness among orthopedic surgeons, numbers were high and many of the surgeons I met were satisfied with their careers.
Orthopedics is a specialty focused on restorative medicine. Orthopedic surgeons do not typically treat sick people. Instead, we restore function and people's lifestyle. And having a solution to a problem is very rewarding. Being able to see a patient's improvement following surgery is also gratifying.
Q: Being a leader, what advice would you give other female orthopedic surgeons looking to grow in their career?
LG: I think every person defines success differently. If a woman in orthopedics is motivated to take on a leadership role, then she should, and she should never give up that dream. Now is a good time for women professionally as there’s so much attention being paid to empowerment of women, discrimination and
bias. If you look at the women in orthopedics, a very large percentage of them are in academics and many of them also hold leadership roles. The time is right for emerging women leaders.
Throughout my professional career, I made it a point to not talk myself out of any goals. As I went through my residency and fellowship, I was focused on being the best orthopedic surgeon I could. Then, when I took on my academic positions, I focused on providing the best care and doing quality research. As my
career progressed, I assumed increasing responsibility in professional organizations.