Leadership Survey

Despite the increasing number of women medical school graduates beginning a career in Surgery, the scarcity of women in higher positions, particularly in academic leadership , has persisted. To inform this study, we previously surveyed women leaders in surgery and obtained their opinions on issues related to women surgeons in surgical leadership. Based on these data we are asking for your assistance with a follow up study. Our objectives are to understand attitudes opinions and barriers to career advancement, leadership roles, and to identify potential remedies.
This study is conducted by the Japan Association of Women Surgeons (JAWS) in cooperation with the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS), Finnish Society of Surgery, and Chapter of the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong. Through your participation, we eventually hope to understand better how women surgeons may advance towards more significant positions and play active roles as Leaders.

Your responses will be counted and analyzed absolutely anonymously to protect the privacy of the respondents. Your personal information will also be kept completely confidential. Your participation is voluntary and there is no penalty for not participating.

If you have any questions or concerns about completing the questionnaire or about participating in this study, you may contact: kazumi@jikei.ac.jp.

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* 1. Please indicate the number of years since graduation from medical school

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* 2. Please indicate your primary affiliation

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* 3. Please indicate the position (s) / role (s) that apply to you. More than one choice is possible

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* 4. Please indicate your main area of clinical practice or specialty

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* 5. Currently I am a member of a committee, project, or Study Group of a major surgical organization.

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* 6. I have comparable abilitities and skills as a surgeon as do my peer male surgeons

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* 7. I am doing my job in order to gain future advancement

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* 8. I have an idea I want to develop and apply in clinical practice in future

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* 9. I have a great mentor who provides strong guidance.

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* 10. I have a female surgeon, with whom I can easily consult, in my institution

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* 11. My superiors and colleagues are open to understanding my situation and motivation for my career.

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* 12. I have sufficient family support to advance my career

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* 13. No matter how hard it is, I am willing to participate in the best training program possible.

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* 14. If I have a chance of studying overseas, I would like to do so.

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* 15. I want to get an additional certificate or skill for my career

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* 16. If I have a chance, I want to get involved in important organizations such as the study group or Committee of a major surgical organization.

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* 17. If I have a chance to become the principal investigator of a project, in which I am interested, I will do so without hesitation.

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* 18. I want to transfer to a better workplace to advance my career if possible

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* 19. I want to obtain a more advanced position to pursue my career

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* 20. Even if there are many difficulties, I would keep going to achieve my goal and dreams in the future.

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* 21. To enhance my career, I would like to participate in various meetings and interact with others.

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* 22. I do not hesitate to negotiate for whatever I need in order to improve current inappropriate conditions.

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* 23. I have to give up new challenges as a surgeon due to family matters.

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* 24. I have to give up new challenges as a surgeon in the current working conditions.

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* 25. I think that I am not being provided with an opportunity to prove myself now.

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* 26. I have had to give up my career because of childbirth and child rearing

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* 27. I have had to give up marriage or childbearing for my career

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* 28. I think that it is impossible to maintain my work-life balance if I become a leader now.

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* 29. In the current male-dominated society, I think that women surgeons cannot grow their career enough even though they are excellent.

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* 30. I think male surgeons do not want to work as a subordinate if the boss is a woman.

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* 31. Women surgeons are unsuitable leaders because they are inferior in physical strength.

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* 32. I think that there is latent discrimination in favor of men with respect to promotion and recruitment.

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* 33. One reason why female surgeons cannot develop their careers is because of current harsh working conditions for surgeons in general.

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* 34. One reason why there are still few female surgeons as leaders is the lack of female surgeon role models.

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* 35. The proportion of female surgeons, who are involved in the governing structure and committees in an institution or surgical society, should be improved.

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* 36. I think female gender is an advantage for female surgeons because women stand out and are visible.

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* 37. What is the ratio of work/family/personal/social activity in your current life? The total number should add up to 10.

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* 38. Please list up to 3 important skills or attributes required of you as a leader in your current position and the reasons, in decreasing order of importance.

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* 39. What are the necessary things for a woman to be a leader in surgery? Please list up to 3 factors and the reasons in decreasing order of importance.

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* 40. What are the most important factors to maintain work-life balance? Please list up to 3 factors and the reasons in decreasing order of importance.

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* 41. If you have any comments on women as leaders, work life balance, or for this survey in general, please indicate them below.

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