New ~ ASGE Women in Endoscopy (SIG)
Background and objectives:
There are more than 1,700 female members of ASGE. Regardless their career stage, many women in GI still face unique barriers and biases, leading to well-documented professional disparities in comparison with their male counterparts. These disparities exist in publication productivity, research grants allocation, and economic and social parity.
Though the number of women opting for careers in medicine is growing, the number of women entering Gastroenterology has remained stagnant, especially in fourth tier fellowships in advanced endoscopy. The lack of social support, networking opportunities and strong female mentors is often cited as a major factor in fewer women opting for a career in gastroenterology.
The creation of the AWE SIG will address these needs of women endoscopists by providing opportunities to create strong networks, and develop programs specific to the unique professional and personal needs of women in GI. It will provide an excellent platform for female members of ASGE to achieve individual excellence at every stage of their career.