Worldwide, women make up less than five percent of practicing orthopedic surgeons, but that number will no doubt increase in the future. A quick look at medical residency data reveals that women now account for nearly 15 perfect of orthopedic surgery residents, and that growth is even more evident in Minnesota.
Hennepin Healthcare, located in Minneapolis, has five female orthopedic surgeons on their staff, outnumbering the number of males at the practice by one. Dr. Jacqueline Geissler, who performs surgeries at Hennepin Healthcare, said there’s a growing number of women entering the field despite misconceptions about which sex may perform better in the operating room.
“Sometimes strength or size are perceived to be problems for women in the orthopedics field, but the reality is that finesse is really most effective,” said Dr. Geissler. However, in regards to surgical tools, Dr. Geissler admits, “We are still trying to find a company willing to make appropriately sized equipment for those of us with smaller hands—for the more petite men, too!”
Closing The Gender Gap
The five female doctors who operate at Hennepin Healthcare are Jacqueline Geissler M.D., Gudrun Mirick Mueller M.D., Nancy Luger M.D., Emily Wagstrom M.D. and Jessica Downes M.D.
In a company news release, the group said they are “proud of the work we do, our good patient outcomes, and high satisfaction scores. We also very much respect our male colleagues who encouraged our hiring, have mentored us in our early careers, and continue to be amazing partners. We are very lucky to have such a supportive and cohesive team.”
It’s great to see women thriving in the field of orthopedic surgery, and it fits in nicely with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons’ recent push for Diversity in Orthopedics. Women and other minority groups often bring a unique skill set to the table that is both complementary and refreshing in an industry that can sometimes lack diversity. Hopefully I’ll get to learn alongside of some of these incredible doctors at future orthopedic seminars or conferences.
