The second annual Women in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Symposium was held at the University of Michigan on March 15, 2019.
The two-day event drew about 150 people to explore the opportunities and challenges of an evolving but still male-dominated profession. Lead organizer Dr. Justine Moe, a Clinical Assistant Professor in the U-M OMS/Hospital Dentistry department, invited speakers who addressed leadership, mentoring, work-life balance, developing a career in science, conflict management, negotiating contracts, and dealing with implicit bias and discrimination, among other topics.
Gender inequity is common in most surgical specialties, but it is especially pronounced in OMS. About 19 percent of U.S. surgeons are women but only about 8 percent of the active American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) members are women.
Last year’s inaugural symposium was led by University of Michigan residents Kelly Sayre, Karen Carver and Sara Anderson under the direction of Dr. Brent Ward, chair of the dental school’s OMFS/Hospital Dentistry. Ward identified the gender gap as a priority when the department celebrated its 100th anniversary and looked ahead to the next century.
“We made history with this symposium because it brought together the most people — both women and men — to date to celebrate women in OMS,” Moe said. About one-third of those in attendance were dental students. “Many dental students attended because sthey are interested in oral surgery but don’t have any role models or mentors in oral surgery,” She added.
Read more about this groundbreaking event on the UM School of Dentistry Website.