The Importance of Female Mentors and Safety in the Workplace to Female Otolaryngology Applicants When Creating Rank Lists

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this research is to understand the importance of female career mentors, research mentors, co-residents, and program directors/chairs to current female otolaryngology residents when applying to residency. The importance of safety in the workplace was also investigated. Methods: Surveys were sent via electronic mail to 119 programs, and program directors were asked to distribute them to female residents. Using the Likert scale, participants ranked the importance of various factors when creating a rank list, in particular, importance of safety in the workplace and importance of female mentors in various leadership positions. Demographic information, geographic location, LGBTQ identification, and fellowship plans were also collected. Results: There were 62 participants nationally. Eighty-seven percent (n = 54) of participants stated that having at least 1 female attending and having female co-residents was “very important” or “important” when ranking programs. A number of respondents replied that having a female career development mentor (38.7% [n = 24] and 43.5% [n = 27]), female program director or chair (4.8% [n = 3] and 16.1% [n = 10]), and female research mentor (12.9% [n = 8] and 29% [n = 18]) was “very important” or “important,” respectively. Ninety-three percent (n = 58) replied that feeling safe in their training environment was “very important” or “important.” Conclusion: Having female mentors as well as safety in the workplace in residency is important to a vast majority of residents and applicants when creating a rank list. Programs with women in these roles may gain a disproportionate number of female residents because they may be more desirable places than those without women in these roles.