Medical technology company Smith+Nephew has launched a women-led global advisory board that is intended to amplify diversity by building equity, breaking biases and inspiring inclusion.
Only about 15% of all orthopedic residents were women and just 7.4% were practicing orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. in 2022, according to a July 9 news release from the company.
Smith+Nephew is aiming to address factors that may lead to gender inequity in the orthopedic workforce, including greater vulnerability to work-family conflict for women, less supportive references than their male counterparts and less national research funding compared to men.
The Smith+Nephew Orthopaedics for All global advisory board is made up of approximately 20 leading female key opinion leaders and surgeons specializing in adult hip and knee orthopedic reconstruction.
Board members must have a minimum of two years post-fellowship experience in reconstructive surgery, a mix of academic and private practice experience and an interest in gender diversity and inclusion initiatives.