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TÜRKÇE
Poster - 251
Women in Pediatric Surgery – A Collaborative Network for Equity, Training, and Research
Andrea Schmedding 1, Sabine Drossard 2, Azrina Zaman 3, Catalina Correa 4, Maria Christina Stefanescu 5, Saioa Santiago-Martinez 6, Shilpa Sharma 7, Sarah Ellul 8, Ana Bosak Veršić 9
1 City Hospital of Brunswick, Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, Baunschweig, Germany
2 Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
3 Hospital University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4 Hospital Militar Central Colombia, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotà, Colombia
5 Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
6 Hospital Parc Taulí/ Recerca I3PT, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí/ Univesitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain
7 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
8 Mater Dei Hospital, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Malta
9 Department for pediatric surgery, Clinical Medical Center Rijeka, Croatia
Purpose
Although many women work as pediatric surgeons, they often experience a lack of support during training, when attempting to advance within hierarchical structures, or when pursuing academic positions. This study describes how a group of female pediatric surgeons founded an open network, called Women in Pediatric Surgery, and outlines their achievements to date.
Materials
The collaboration began at the EUPSA Congress in Athens in 2021, where female pediatric surgeons gathered to discuss the representation and experiences of women in the field, both in clinical practice and at professional events. These discussions sparked the idea of forming a closer and more structured network.
Results
Until now, the group expanded into a network of more than 140 women from over 50 countries. It is open to all women working in pediatric surgery. The network maintains a homepage and an active Signal messenger group. Together, the members began analyzing topics such as the scope of pediatric surgery, training pathways, working conditions, and academic engagement worldwide, with a focus on gender disparities. Initial findings were presented at the WOFAPS Congress 2022 (5 oral presentations and one poster) and one article recently published in the European Journal of Pediatric Surgery. Additionally, the group established a database covering training and working conditions in pediatric surgery across 38 countries.
Conclusions
The Women in Pediatric Surgery network demonstrates how international collaboration can empower female surgeons, foster academic and professional growth, and drive change towards greater gender equity in pediatric surgery. By creating a platform for shared experiences, research, and advocacy, the group paves the way for a more inclusive and supportive future in the field.