The Careers and Professional Well-Being of Women Oncologists During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Responding for Tomorrow

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated gender inequity in medicine, with women physicians reporting greater household responsibilities than their men counterparts and steeper barriers to career advancement. The pandemic highlighted the systemic assumptions and challenges faced by women physicians, which we anticipate is also true in our field of oncology. Prior literature suggests that women physicians were tasked with increased personal and professional responsibilities without compensation for their additional work, as well as derailments in career progression and significant burnout. Our aims are to highlight areas of opportunity to optimize the workplace experience of the oncology workforce and to invest in the professional well-being and sustainability of women oncologists as a step toward global workplace equity and future pandemic preparedness.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened gender inequality in the field of medicine, specifically impacting women physicians who face greater household responsibilities and barriers to career advancement compared to their male counterparts. Previous literature indicates that women physicians are burdened with increased personal and professional responsibilities without compensation, leading to career derailments and significant burnout. The focus is on identifying areas for improvement to enhance workplace experiences for oncology professionals and support the well-being and sustainability of women oncologists, aiming for global workplace equity and better pandemic readiness in the future.