When the lights power on in the operating room at Stamford Hospital, there’s a good chance the surgeon peering out behind the mask is a woman.
Women lead the hospital’s breast and neurosurgery divisions, and the incoming class of residents is all female.
That’s unusual, considering less than one-third of all surgeon in Connecticut are female, according to the latest figures from the American Medical Association.
“At least 50 percent of the medical students we interview are women, said Dr. Kevin M. Dwyer, vice chairman of the Department of Surgery and director of Stamford Hospital’s Surgical Residency Program.
Just as important, roughly a third of the hospital’s attending surgical staff and community surgeons are women….
This passage appeared on the front-page of the July 25, 2017 issue of the Stamford Advocate. The article was adapted from an original story by Sujata Srinivasan for Connecticut Health Investigative Team, that appeared on July 19, 2017 and can be found here.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL CUMMO/STAMFORD ADVOCATE
Left to right: Dr. Joey Papa, attending, general surgery; Dr. Diane Durgan, 3rd Year Resident (PGY 3); Dr. Marissa Novack (PGY 2); Dr. Nicolle Burgwardt (PGY 1); Dr. Brittany Davis (PGY 1); Dr. Marilee Frietas, attending, colorectal surgery; Dr. Kristin McCoy (PGY 3); Dr. Elise McKenna (PGY4); Dr. Marissa De Freese, attending, trauma surgery; Dr. Elvira Allakhverdieva (PGY 1); Dr. Meaghan Broderick (PGY 1).