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BRING IT ON

Asking Questions of Why there are so very few female Ortho

Orthopaedic Leaders
surgeons and how we can improve this?

J. Bergfeld:

Here in the United States females still have the major
burden of child care. Certainly less than in previous
generations but it is still there. I remember, 40-50

John Bergfeld, MD years ago in the United States, females made up
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
only 5-6% of the doctors in the medical schools.

Now, presently we have 50% female students.
With our cultural changes of the male playing

more and more of a role in the management of the
household, I think we will see more and more female

Robert G. Marx, MD, MSc, FRCSC orthopaedic surgeons. The formation of the USA
New York, New York, USA
female orthopaedic surgeon society, ie the Ruth

Jackson Society (a society where female orthopaedic
surgeons can come together to discuss similar
problems) will also help in the US.

R. Marx
Freddie H. Fu, MD
Orthopaedics has traditionally been a male-dominated
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
specialty in North America. This probably relates
to stereotypes as well as the physical demands of

the job and the time commitment. This has been
changing over the last few decades and I believe it
will continue to change. Currently, the president of
Nicola Maffulli, MD, PhD, MS,
AOSSM is my colleague Jo Hannafin, the first female
FRCS (Orth)
to hold this position. As women’s rights advance
London, England,
around the world, I believe there will be more female
UNITED KINGDOM
orthopedic surgeons everywhere–which will benefit

both patients and the specialty in general.

James H. Lubowitz, MD F. Fu
Taos, New Mexico, USA
Traditionally this is true, but the number of women in
our field is certainly increasing over the past 5 years
or so. In Pittsburgh, we have one of the most diverse

programs in the world, which includes 20% women.
Many women (and men too!) are family oriented and
Guillermo R. Arce, MD
want to spend time at home with their kids, in addition
Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
to being dedicated to their profession. As leaders in

our field, we need to create and provide opportunity
for talented people, regardless of gender and race,

while also taking into account their obligations and
commitment to family.
Joao Espregueira-Mendes, MD, PhD
Porto, PORTUGAL

44 ISAKOS NEWSLETTER 2014: Volume II