Jessica H Maxwell1, James A Randall2, Sarah M Dermody3, Adnan S Hussaini4, Hamsini Rao5, Ajay S Nathan6, Sonya Malekzadeh7, Jamie R Litvack8. 1. Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 50 Irving St NW, Washington, DC, 20422, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA. Electronic address: Jessica.Maxwell3@va.gov. 2. Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 S 1(s)t Ave, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA. 3. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Michigan Medicine University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. 4. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA. 5. Georgetown University School of Medicine, 3900 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA. 6. Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E Concord St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. 7. Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 50 Irving St NW, Washington, DC, 20422, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA. 8. Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA, 99202, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A gender pay gap has been reported across many professions, including medicine. METHODS: Surgeons employed at complex Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) nationwide in 2016 were identified. Data on salary, gender, years since medical school graduation, professorship status, h-index, and geographic location were collected. RESULTS: Of 1993 surgeons nationwide, 23% were female. On average, female surgeons had significantly lower salaries compared to male surgeons ($268,429 ± 41,339 versus $287,717 ± 45,379, respectively; p < 0.001). Among each surgical specialty, there were no significant differences in salary on univariate analysis. Women were underrepresented in higher paying specialties and more heavily represented in lower paying specialties. On multivariate analysis, gender (p < 0.001), time since medical school graduation (p < 0.001), surgical specialty (p = 0.031), h-index (p < 0.001), and geographic location (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of salary. CONCLUSION: Female gender significantly predicted lower salary among VAMC surgeons, however within each surgical specialty, there was no significant gender pay gap. SENTENCE SUMMARY: Independent predictors of salary included gender, surgical specialty, experience, h-index, and geographic location. Although female surgeons had lower overall salaries compared to male surgeons in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), there were no significant gender differences in salary among each surgical specialty. Pay transparency, unique to the VHA, along with the use of rational and objective criteria to establish and adjust salaries, may play a role in reducing the gender pay gap among VHA surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc.
BACKGROUND: A gender pay gap has been reported across many professions, including medicine. METHODS: Surgeons employed at complex Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) nationwide in 2016 were identified. Data on salary, gender, years since medical school graduation, professorship status, h-index, and geographic location were collected. RESULTS: Of 1993 surgeons nationwide, 23% were female. On average, female surgeons had significantly lower salaries compared to male surgeons ($268,429 ± 41,339 versus $287,717 ± 45,379, respectively; p < 0.001). Among each surgical specialty, there were no significant differences in salary on univariate analysis. Women were underrepresented in higher paying specialties and more heavily represented in lower paying specialties. On multivariate analysis, gender (p < 0.001), time since medical school graduation (p < 0.001), surgical specialty (p = 0.031), h-index (p < 0.001), and geographic location (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of salary. CONCLUSION: Female gender significantly predicted lower salary among VAMC surgeons, however within each surgical specialty, there was no significant gender pay gap. SENTENCE SUMMARY: Independent predictors of salary included gender, surgical specialty, experience, h-index, and geographic location. Although female surgeons had lower overall salaries compared to male surgeons in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), there were no significant gender differences in salary among each surgical specialty. Pay transparency, unique to the VHA, along with the use of rational and objective criteria to establish and adjust salaries, may play a role in reducing the gender pay gap among VHA surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc.