‘Make your own path and don’t let anybody dissuade you from your journey’, says AOA President to Women of Orthopaedics

MedTech News: Women make up more than 50% of medical graduates in Australia. Yet, the orthopaedics profession has failed to attract a proportionate number of females in this surgical specialty who can make a significant contribution to the profession and to orthopaedic patients.

The Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s DePuy Synthes Women of Orthopaedics group aims to support Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion by actively building a coalition of orthopaedic surgeons via an ongoing series of virtual and in-person meetings. These events aim to inspire and drive advocacy and allyship by elevating and advancing female orthopaedic surgeons.

The latest event, chaired by A/Prof Claudia Di Bella and A/Prof Catherine McDougall, featured an esteemed Australian faculty including Dr Annette Holian, President of the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA) and Dr Avanthi Mandaleson.

In addressing the attendees, Sue Martin, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson MedTech Australia and New Zealand, said “There is a recognised lack of a gender parity in the orthopaedic sector, particularly amongst orthopaedic surgeons, where women make up only 5% of orthopaedic consultants in Australia. I am, however, heartened to see that this is changing because 22% of orthopaedic trainees in this year’s cohort are female and in fact, our first AOA President Dr Annette Holian has been elected this year.”

In reflecting on her own career, she said “I have seen challenges and changes to female representation in my own career. Being a female in a dominated environment is something I know a lot about. I experienced it first-hand in the cardiac cath lab and later when I made the move to the business world.

“As rare as it is to be the top of your field as a female surgeon and trainee, it’s almost as rare to be a female CEO in mine. Getting here took a lot of hard work, tenacity and courage. When I reflect on my own career, mentorship and allyship have played a critical role in supporting my progress.”

Dr Holian shared her challenging career journey as one of the first two female orthopaedic surgeons in Australia. “What I discovered was that one’s leadership style and your success as a leader very much depend on your personal values and you being authentic. That comes from knowing your personal values and knowing how you act them out. Mine are courage, advocacy, integrity and compassion.

“So often in my career, I could not be my authentic self at work. Perhaps my thinking was part of the barrier. But I didn’t feel I could be my nurturing, encouraging supporting vulnerable self in our workplaces. I never felt I could express doubt to any of my peers. We’re all supposed to be 100% confident over every decision that we make and it’s a very male view.”

Dr Holian teared up while sharing her heartfelt words with the orthopaedics surgeons and trainees. She said “I want you all to have a different experience. That’s why I sought election to the presidency to help shine a light in the dark corners of the challenges that we face as women. I want you to be able to question and express doubt without fear of being belittled, diminished or marked down for lacking confidence.

“We need to look at advancing not only diversity, equity and inclusion, but to also belonging and advocacy and leadership in the mix. Don’t try to fit in with others. Don’t diminish yourself or try to stay small. When you’re a shining star, I really want you to be authentic, to know yourself, to define your values. Make your own goals, live your own dream. Make your own path and don’t let anybody dissuade you from what your journey is.”

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