"The Typical Surgeon is…"
The Life in Surgery (1) committee hosted its second event,
"Surgical Stereotypes", in early May at the Faculty Club.
The purpose of the event was to deconstruct stereotypes
inherent within the surgical culture. The evening was hosted
by surgeon scientist Carol-Anne Moulton, the leader of
the Life in Surgery group and featured two prominent
education researchers, Maria Athina Martimianakis and
Simon Kitto. The evening began with light appetizers
and drinks while undergraduate medical students had the
opportunity to mingle with committee members, Ron
Levine, Jim Rutka and other invited guests.
 (Left to right) Maria Athina Martimianakis, Carol-Anne Moulton, and Simon Kitto
|
The Life in Surgery committee presented a panel comprising
medical students Jenny Jin, Annie Leung, residents
Francis Zih, Ian Choy, and Lakho Sandhu, fellow
Sandra deMontbrun, and staff surgeons Steven Gallinger
and Alice Wei. The panelists shared their perceptions
and experiences of surgical stereotypes. Research in the
medical sociology and professional identity literature
was presented on how these stereotypes are developed,
understood and enacted, and how they might be adaptive
and necessary as well as maladaptive and harmful.
Dr. Martimianakis, a cross-appointed scientist at the
Wilson Centre and SickKids, offered her perspective
based on her own research, which explores professional
identity. Dr. Kitto, also a scientist at the Wilson Centre,
shared his insights regarding stereotypes as a medical
sociologist who has been studying surgeons for over a
decade.
|
The forum explored the surgical stereotypes, perceived
personality traits and gender issues and the way these
are perpetuated within medical and social communities.
The audience engaged the panel in discussion around
the socialization process in surgery, the formation of
professional identity, and the ideal surgical personality.
When asked to describe the ‘surgical personality,’ students
replied that the medical and social culture forges
an image of a surgeon as quick, decisive, active, efficient,
certain, and usually a white male. However, after hearing
personal anecdotes from the panel, it was evident that
there is a spectrum of types of successful surgeons that
do not conform to this widely perceived stereotype.
It is important that both genders are mindful of the
lifestyle and culture of surgery. For this reason, the
group has broadened its mandate to mentor, guide and
empower male and female students at all stages of their
medical career. The Life in Surgery group is a platform
for building stronger relationships between faculty and
trainees and a forum for exploring the pertinent issues
medical students are facing when deciding upon a surgical
career. These relationships lie at the foundation of the
educational process. We encourage students to join us in
the Life in Surgery events during our next academic year.
Priyanka Patel
(1) Formerly Women in Surgery
|