Page 25 - EOE newsletter-12

ΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΗ
Tεύχος 12 | Ιούλιος - Αύγουστος 2021
There is a need for more national and international collaborations with the main focus of combining resources and capabilities to benefit people’s health and wellbeing. Improved collaboration between national and international medical and scientific organizations to optimize CPGs methodology and development will be critical to unify concepts, deliver consensus and establish clear guidance for our patient’s management.
As the first woman taking part of the executive Board of the European Association of Urology do you notice a lack of women in Urology? If so, why do you think that’s the case? How you believe that women will strengthen their place in Urology?
As you mentioned I am the first woman, but the truth is that I am not sure that I am the first to deserve it! But since it is true that I am the first: I would be very happy to think that it is a beginning, that we are going to truly seek equity. And if this can serve as an inspiration for female colleagues, I think I will be even happier.
Traditionally urology has been a male-dominated specialty, and probably still now the numbers of female urologists are still low compared to other specialties, even among surgical specialties
that have been the latest to achieve some balance. Generally speaking however there is a real imbalance in medicine
and academia. Despite the large
pool of women in the academic medicine pipeline, relatively few ascend to top leadership positions. The gender gap
in surgical residencies is extremely wide, and it was estimated that urology
would require 56 years and
71 years to reach levels
of female representation comparable with that of the overall trainee population and
US population, respectively. Male domination in academia and scientific meetings would have significant impact on expanding
academic careers for female urologists, and role modelling for female students and residents. The lack of women in speaker/executive/leadership roles may have significant implications for future generations as it may signal to women that they do not belong. Is for that is crucial to work and create role models and promote mentoring to be sure we are able to attract female talent and make it grow.
We must increase the presence of women urologists in congresses, organizing committees, executive boards, journal boards because it is proven that balance and diversity improve productivity and efficiency. Promoting the presence of women in leadership positions will have a direct impact on the formation of our young people. But the lack of diversity affects not only gender, but also race, creances. And we must achieve real diversity in all aspects (gender, race, sexual orientation, cultural) to ensure that our specialty is on the right track.
We must confront the anachronistic concept of meritocracy, a meritocracy that is not "meritocratic" because it is based on implicit biases. The groups that "evaluate" merits are closed groups, basically made up of middle-aged white men, who do not have the objectivity necessary to appreciate talent outside their circles.
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