Parental leave and family building experiences among head and neck surgeons in the United States: Career impact and opportunities for improvement

Authors

Caitlin McMullen, Department of Head & Neck - Endocrine Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.
Alexandra Kejner, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Elizabeth Nicolli, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.
Marianne Abouyared, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, UC Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
Orly Coblens, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
Katie Fedder, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Punam Thakkar, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Rusha Patel, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-21-2024

Journal

Head & neck

DOI

10.1002/hed.27752

Keywords

burnout; family leave; head and neck surgery; maternity leave; wellness

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The availability of paid parental leave is an important factor for retention and wellness. The experiences of head and neck surgeons with parental leave have never been reported. METHODS: A survey was electronically distributed to head and neck subspecialty surgeons in the United States. Responses were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Male surgeons had more children and took significantly less parental leave than women. Thirty percent of respondents reported that parental leave negatively impacted compensation, and 14% reported a delay in promotion due to leave, which impacted women more than men. The vast majority reported they are happy or neutral about covering those on leave. Most respondents utilized paid childcare, and approximately one quarter of respondents spending 11%-20% of their income on childcare. CONCLUSIONS: This study illuminates the current disparities regarding parental leave-taking within the subspecialty of head and neck surgery in the United States. Women surgeons are more likely to be impacted professionally and financially.

APA Citation

McMullen, Caitlin; Kejner, Alexandra; Nicolli, Elizabeth; Abouyared, Marianne; Coblens, Orly; Fedder, Katie; Thakkar, Punam; and Patel, Rusha, "Parental leave and family building experiences among head and neck surgeons in the United States: Career impact and opportunities for improvement" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 4496.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/4496

Department

Surgery