Miriam Mutebi, Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital shared a post on LinkedIn:
‘There just aren’t enough women interested in surgery.’
I’ve heard this explanation for decades. The ‘pipeline problem‘.
The pipeline is full and the system is broken. Brilliant young women are now choosing surgery, but they’re leaving at every stage because the existing systems may not be designed to support them:
- Medical school: Where they’re told surgery requires ‘aggressive‘ personalities they don’t have
- Residency: Where they frequently face harassment and the subtle message that they don’t belong
- Early career: Where they may lack sufficient mentorship and the professional networks that propel other colleagues forward
- Mid-career: Where they hit glass ceilings in academic promotions
- Late career: Where they’re still the ‘first‘ or ‘only‘ woman in senior positions
The women aren’t the problem. The environment is.
Here’s what Pan African Women’s Association of Surgeons is doing differently:
1. Mentorship that actually works
We are starting to pair medical students with established surgeons who’ve navigated similar challenges. Not generic career advice, specific strategies for succeeding in environments that weren’t built for you.
2. Research collaboratives
When we collaborate on multi-country studies, we create research that can’t be ignored.
3. Professional development
From grant-writing mentorship to leadership training, we teach the skills medical school often doesn’t cover.
4. Advocacy and policy work
We are starting work with individuals in training or running programs/ hospitals to change policies that may leave women out.
5. Visibility campaigns
When young women see PAWAS members presenting at conferences and leading departments, surgery stops feeling impossible.
In Kenya alone, we’ve gone from 4 women general surgeons in 2015 to nearly 30% of surgical residents being women today. More women didn’t suddenly become ‘interested’ in surgery, we just have started to build systems that better support them. (Shout out to SSK and KAWS for building with intention!)
PAWAS members are:
- Publishing in international journals
- Leading surgical/hospital departments
- Winning prestigious awards
- Training the next generation
- Changing healthcare policy
When you fix the environment, the ‘pipeline problem’ disappears.
What’s one systemic barrier you’ve faced that had nothing to do with your abilities?”
Other articles featuring Miriam Mutebi on OncoDaily.