Mentorship, work-life balance, and opportunities amongst cardiothoracic surgery trainees

Objective Cardiothoracic surgery training is demanding. Mentorship, belonging, work-life balance, support, and opportunities are critical factors for career satisfaction and retention. This study explores gender differences in these key areas amongst cardiothoracic surgery trainees. Methods A cross-sectional national survey was conducted with the 2024 Thoracic Surgery Directors Association In-Training Exam. The 18-item questionnaire consisted of multiple choice and Likert-scale questions regarding mentorship, belonging, work-life balance, and perceptions of opportunities, support, and program fairness. Data were summarized using frequencies and percentages; groups were compared using either χ² or Fisher exact test. Results A total of 440 trainees participated from 74 programs (74.3% response rate); 31% (n = 137) women, 64% men (n = 281), and 5% (n = 22) gender not disclosed. Female trainees less frequently reported a strong sense of belonging in their program (82% vs 90%; P = .04), were more dissatisfied with time for personal life (42% vs 32%; P = .02), more frequently considered leaving the program (20% vs 11%; P = .01) and expressed dissatisfaction with becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon (9% vs 4%; P = .02). Female trainees were less likely to perceive that opportunities were distributed fairly (75% vs 83%; P = .04) and were also less likely to feel that residency is a level playing field (71% vs 83%; P = .005). Conclusions Gender disparities exist in cardiothoracic surgery training, with female trainees reporting greater dissatisfaction with work-life balance, mentorship, opportunities, support, and career choice compared with their male counterparts.