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These Women Have Risen as Leaders of Otolaryngology Associations

by Nikki Kean •

In addition to Drs. Woodson, Chandrasekhar, and Bradford, Gaelyn Garrett, MD, MMHC, became the first woman president of the Triological Society (TRIO). She served two terms from 2019 to 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I know that each of these women has dialed the clock forward for the rest of us,” Dr. Nathan said.

Throughout her career, Dr. Garrett hasn’t looked at herself as a trailblazer. “When I look back at my residency [1989 to 1994], I was the only woman resident. I wasn’t the first, but during my entire tenure I was the only woman [in that position]. Clearly, that has changed,” said Dr. Garrett, who is the Guy M. Maness Chair of laryngology and voice in the department of otolaryngology– head and neck surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Dr. Garrett was first elected vice president of the Southern section of TRIO in 2012. “That was the first stepping stone to becoming president of TRIO and my foray into leadership [only section VPs can be elected president],” she said. The first woman vice president was actually Margaret Kenna, MD, MPH, who was elected the vice president of the Eastern section in 2007. “I was the third VP after Dr. Kenna and Margaretha L. Casselbrant, MD, PhD, who was also elected VP of the Eastern section.”

Dr. Garrett credits the women who came before her as the true trailblazers in otolaryngology. “They were the ones that faced the most obstacles getting through the [operating room] door,” she said.

Gender-Related Barriers Still Persist

Women in medicine face additional challenges and barriers due to gender bias and discrimination. Some of the specific challenges that female physicians often face include:

  • Unequal pay and opportunities. Women are often paid less than their male counterparts, take roles that are perceived as less valued, and may have fewer opportunities for leadership positions and other forms of advancement. There is also often a reluctance to make waves or speak up about gender equity.
  • Bias and discrimination. Like other women in male-dominated fields, female otolaryngologists may face bias and discrimination from colleagues and patients, which can make it difficult for them to succeed and advance in their careers.
  • Social pressures. Women are still the main caretakers when it comes to family, whether that is childcare or eldercare.

Unfortunately, otolaryngology has one of the largest gender gaps in income, academic appointments, and chair positions, noted Dr. Yaremchuk. Although women have made tremendous gains in the field of otolaryngology, they have not reached parity at the academic level. Currently, 40% of residents in otolaryngology are women, but the number of women attaining full professorship is much lower: around 15%, and only 9% of department chair positions are held by women (Laryngoscope. 2020;130:1664-1669). “One important goal is that half of all full professors are women,” said Dr. Sie, who is director of the Childhood Communication Center at Seattle Children’s Hospital and professor in the department of otolaryngology at the University of Washington School of Medicine.