Gender disparities in perceived parenthood support among vascular surgery trainees

Authors

• Margaret A. Reilly, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
• Lindsey A. Olivere, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• Christina L. Cui, Duke University, Durham, NC
• Tara Zielke, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
• Eric B. Pillado, Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
• Ruojia Debbie Li, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
• Joshua S. Eng, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
• Leanne E. Grafmuller, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN
• Kathryn L. DiLosa, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Palma M. Shaw, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
• Yue-Yung Hu, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
• Karl Y. Bilimoria, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
• Malachi G. Sheahan, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Dawn M. Coleman, Duke University, Durham, NC

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-10-2026

Publication Title

American Journal of Surgery

Abstract

Many interventions can support the unique challenges surgical trainee parents encounter. We investigated parenthood support intervention availability among vascular surgery training programs and their associations with perceived parenthood support using responses from a voluntary, national cross-sectional survey of vascular surgery trainees. Trainees characterized perceived program support and parenthood support intervention availability. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations of feelings of support with demographics and interventions. Among 447 respondents (65.7% response rate), 30.2% were current or expectant parents (N = 135), and 87.5% felt supported to pursue parenthood. However, perceived support varied by gender (78.7% of females vs 92.8% of males, p <  0.001), including among trainee parents (70.6% vs 91.1%, p = 0.003). After adjusting for gender, back-up call schedule availability was associated with greater odds of feeling supported (aOR 2.2, 95% CI:1.0-4.8). Policies supporting trainee parenthood can significantly influence program culture and parenthood decisions. Further interventions are needed to ensure equitable support for trainee family planning.

PubMed ID

42509082

Rights

© 2026 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Recommended Citation

Reilly, Margaret A.; Olivere, Lindsey A.; Cui, Christina L.; Zielke, Tara; Pillado, Eric B.; Li, Ruojia Debbie; Eng, Joshua S.; Grafmuller, Leanne E.; DiLosa, Kathryn L.; Shaw, Palma M.; Hu, Yue-Yung; Bilimoria, Karl Y.; Sheahan, Malachi G.; and Coleman, Dawn M., "Gender disparities in perceived parenthood support among vascular surgery trainees" (2026). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 5030.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/5030
10.1016/j.amjsurg.2026.117138