Neurologists talk about gender disparity at the global stroke meeting

The International Stroke Conference (ISC) annually attracts thousands of neurologists who want to network with other experts and present convincing presentations of the latest advances in clinical care, science and education. Joining these presentations for the first time was a rather provocative topic – gender disparities among the presenters themselves.

The research was presented by the Health Sciences Center of the University of Texas at Houston (UTHealth), which was the subject of two posters and a mini-symposium. Both studies – one reviewing invited speakers and one reviewing submitted and accepted abstracts – revealed a significant under-representation of women.

"It is important to shed light on such statistics to raise awareness of gender disparities that have been rooted in neuroscience for many years," said Louise McCullough, MD, Ph.D., professor and director. from the Department of Neurology, is the Vice President of the ISC Programming Committee.

The study on guest speakers revealed that less than a third of the 1,283 guest speakers at the ISC were women.

"On average, only 29% of the invited speakers were women, and while this may reflect the field, I still find it astounding," said lead author Lauren Fournier, MD, a researcher in vascular neurology at McGovern Medical School in Toronto. UTHealth.

The results showed that the proportion of women speaking was highest in nursing (86.4%) and the lowest in neurocritical care and aneurysm (0%). According to the study, all middle-level teachers and nurses were women, but fewer than one-fifth (17.7%) of the medical doctors were women.

The data also illustrated racial disparities. Women accounted for 32.7% of Caucasian speakers, but only 16.7% and 12% of Black and Hispanic speakers.

The second study examined the data of the first authors of the submitted and accepted ISC summaries. It appears that about one-third of the abstracts submitted (36.9%) and accepted (36.5%) were written by women.

The results also revealed that the vast majority of nurses with accepted abstracts were women (93.2%), while about a quarter of physicians with accepted abstracts were women (27.4%).

"Statistics show that women do not submit their science as much as men, and they also show that women participants tend to play more specific roles," said Fournier, who was also the first author of the study. "We need to encourage more women to pursue science studies, undertake major studies and become faculty members in university research."

By career level, the highest proportion of women with accepted abstracts was students / trainees (40.7%).

"This is a positive sign, indicating a better balance between men and women in the coming years, with the increase in the number of women in the profession," Fournier said. "We know there is a smaller pool of women in the neuroscience field, but it also goes beyond that.It is important to have strong faculty mentors to defend their work and help them in their work. seize opportunities to grow and progress in a male dominated field. "

Fournier was one of four fellows and four male Fellows of the McGovern Medical School Stroke Program. She is mentored by McCullough and Anjail Sharrief, MD, MPH, an badistant professor of neurology.

"Dr. McCullough and Dr. Sharrief are great advocates for women in science, and Dr. McCullough hosted a special luncheon at the conference to allow junior scientists and physicians like me to prepare for their careers," said Fournier. "These two studies are the result of a conversation we had last summer." Dr. McCullough suggested to look at this and jumped on it.The fact that both abstracts were accepted and that I presented them is promising and shows that the issue is taken seriously. "

"The data shows that we are starting to take a turning point and I am delighted that UTHealth is really part of that progress, as demonstrated by our stroke program fellows," McCullough said. "The International Stroke Conference is a great event to learn and share different perspectives and ideas, so it is essential that women have the opportunity to participate and realize their potential."

Henry, his one-year-old son, joined Fournier at the ISC.

"Women attending conferences like this face other challenges – for example, is it appropriate for badfeeding mothers?" Fournier said. "My husband who supported me came and was on duty, and Dr. Sharrief, lead author of these summaries, also brought his young son."

Provided by
University of Texas Texas Health Sciences Center