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An AUA Workforce Report: Data From the AUA Census Regarding Workplace Experiences Based on Gender - Beyond the Abstract

In 2019, the number of females matriculating into medical school was 50.9%, an increase from 46.2% in the 2012-2013 cycle.1 Coincidentally, since 2019, the percentage of practicing female urologists has also increased from 9.9% to 11.8% in 2023.2 Our study aimed to understand better how different genders experience various aspects of the workplace. We sought to highlight pertinent gender differences potentially impacting career satisfaction and identify areas where intervention could improve gender discrepancies. We hypothesized significant differences existed between males and females regarding responses to gender-related AUA Census questions.

The statistics highlighted within our study showcased females were more likely to report experiencing gender bias than males. Additionally, females were more likely to cite barriers to professional success, identifying a lack of control over staffing decisions or scheduling as the greatest barrier. Females also reported more burnout and educational debt compared to males. Notably, males and females demonstrated little difference in average hours worked per week.

These findings are not isolated to the field of Urology. In an article by Rodarte et al., the authors share findings from a 373-respondent survey of female orthopedic surgeons. Over 80% of the respondents reported doing more administrative work in clinics outside their job description.3 Additionally, in a survey sent to female diplomats of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and cardiothoracic residents, 98% of the women who wanted to begin a family decided to delay pregnancy as the work-life balance was unsuitable.4

This data is pertinent for females in the workforce to understand as they transition to practice and begin negotiating contracts. The data is also important for leaders as this knowledge provides the foundation for individualized practice plans to ensure the urologists are meeting the needs of the workplace AND the workplace is meeting the needs of urologists.



Written by: Jacqueline Morin,1 Noor Ali,1 Amanda North,2 Kate H Kraft,3 Parth Modi,4 Andrew Harris1,5


  1. Department of Urology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
  2. Department of Urology, Montifiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York.
  3. Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  4. Department of Urology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
  5. Department of Urology, Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky.
References:

  1. Figure 1. Percentage of applicants to U.S. medical schools by sex, academic years 1980-1981 through 2018-2019. AAMC. Accessed December 2, 2024. 
  2. Census Results - American Urological Association. Accessed September 11, 2023.
  3. Rodarte P, Kammire MS, Israel H, Poon SC, Cannada LK. The other side of conflict: Examining the challenges of female orthopaedic surgeons in the workplace. The American Journal of Surgery. 2023;225(1):46-52. doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.09.027
  4. Giuliano K, Ceppa DP, Antonoff M, et al. Women in Thoracic Surgery 2020 Update—Subspecialty and Work-Life Balance Analysis. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2022;114(5):1933-1942. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.02.076
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