A group of female anesthesiologists will ask the American Society of Anesthesiologists to adopt policy around parental leave as well as feature more female keynotes at the annual Anesthesiology convention, Medscape reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. Women in Anesthesiology met Oct. 20, the eve of Anesthesiology 2017, Oct. 21 to Oct. 25 in Boston.
2. The group would like ASA to:
- Adopt a parental leave statement
- Feature more female keynote speakers at Anesthesiology
- Address pay disparities
3. Women in Anesthesiology also wants more female anesthesiologist representation in leadership. Rekha Chandrabose, MD, an assistant anesthesiology professor at UC San Diego, serves as the group's president.
4. A 2013 Rand Corp. study stated approximately 25 percent of anesthesiologists are women, while 40 percent of young anesthesiologists — below 36 years old — are women.
5. The same study found women anesthesiologists earn 7 percent less than men. Medscape's 2017 Anesthesiologist Compensation Report said women anesthesiologists make 24 percent less than their male counterparts.
6. The ASA' Committee on Young Physicians is already working on a solution to the parental leave issue. Kristin Ondecko Ligda, MD, a staff anesthesiologist at Pittsburgh-based UMPC, is leading the charge. Dr. Ligda believes the ASA will be receptive to such a proposal.
7. Medscape reports the American College of Surgeons and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology already have maternity leave statements. Both support at least six weeks of maternity leave.
To learn more about Women in Anesthesiology, click here.