The Society for Women in Radiation Oncology Five Years Later: Connection, Representation, and Inclusivity Matter.

Abstract

Background: The Society for Women in Radiation Oncology (SWRO) was founded in 2017 with a mission to promote representation and gender equity in the field of Radiation Oncology (RO). We aimed to assess the current experiences of SWRO members 5 years after the founding of SWRO using a comprehensive survey of gender-related workforce issues.

Methods: From January to February 2023, an anonymous survey was distributed to all current SWRO members. Questions included demographics, family planning/fertility issues, perceptions of the field, and membership needs. Results pertaining to demographics, job satisfaction, mentorship, SWRO membership satisfaction, and future directions are reported in this analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize frequencies of the multiple-choice items on the survey.

Results: The survey was distributed to 461 SWRO members, with a total of 144 responses, resulting in a response rate of 31.3%. The majority of respondents identified as female (96.5%), RO attending physicians (54.2%), located in the United States (76.4%), and with employment in either a private or community-based practice (50.7%). Top reasons for SWRO membership included networking (91%), leadership/professional development (83%), and mentorship (79%). After clinical responsibilities, insufficient institutional mentorship was cited as the second most common limitation to professional productivity, and only a minority of respondents (46.5%) reported being either "extremely" or "somewhat" satisfied with the current mentorship available to them at their current institution. A majority (69.3%) reported seeking female mentorship outside their current institution. Unwanted sexual comments, attention, or advances by superiors or colleagues was reported by 35.7% of respondents, and 53.6% reported either "strongly" or "somewhat" agreeing that gender specific biases exist within their program.

Conclusion: This study highlights opportunities for improvement related to gender-based obstacles, education and advocacy, support of family-friendly culture shifts, mentorship, and increased physicist engagement which will ultimately promote representation, inclusivity, and gender equity in RO.