Uncover your inner power: Breaking leadership biases in global healthcare.

Women currently represent approximately 70% of the global healthcare workforce, 60.9% of the global dental workforce, 77.6% of the US healthcare workforce, and 36.7% of the US dental workforce. The American Dental Association states that the number of practicing women dentists in the United States has increased by 2.25 times since 2001, with a projected trajectory to level off by 2040. Despite having a major impact on the healthcare sector globally, women earn 24% less than men and only serve in 25% of senior leadership positions. In the US dental schools, only 14% of faculty serve in administrative roles, and as of April 2022, 28.6% of the US dental school deans were women, indicating gender underrepresentation in the highest roles of academic leadership. This corresponds to the data on gender parity still not being the norm in many societies and workplaces and can be attributed to public policies, stereotypical perceptions, and individual factors. Five key factors have been identified to be crucial for women's entry or advancement in global health leadership: a) public policy, b) community, c) institutional, d) interpersonal, and e) individual. Individual self-improvement and institutional practices may be used to overcome these barriers to women's leadership in healthcare and shift the power dynamics toward reinforcing gender equality. These transformative changes are measured through women's collective capacities and skills, relationship dynamics, community perceptions, and environmental practices. This article recognizes the present obstacles to women in healthcare leadership and proposes strategies to achieve gender equality both through individual and institutional practices.

Women in dental education and their desire to lead: A follow-up.

The aim of this study was to provide a follow-up to the 2015 national survey of women in dental education to re-examine factors and perceived barriers to pursuing administrative and leadership roles. At the beginning of 2023, a survey was administered to full-time women faculty in predoctoral dental programs in the United States. The survey instrument employed a structured format along with open-ended questions to capture qualitative data. The overall response rate was 26% (527/1994) and included respondents from fifty-five of the sixty-seven dental schools contacted. Half of respondents indicated holding an administrative position and 20% reported administration as their primary appointment. There was a significant increase in the number of women holding a leadership role in 2023 (76%) compared to 2015 (53%). Those seeking a leadership position in 2023 were less likely to have participated in leadership training (p<0.01) and less likely to have previously sought an administrative position (p>0.01). Women in leadership and administrative roles were more likely to indicate receiving extra compensation for administrative duties (p<0.01) and a desire for higher rank (p = 0.04) compared to 2015, but perceptions persist among the majority of respondents (71%) that women are not being compensated equally to their male counterparts. Respondents highlighted the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on career advancement and the positive culture changes that have contributed to greater workplace flexibility. Overall, respondents sent a resounding message that women in dental education need structural change to achieve success: pay equity, mentorship, and inclusive and supportive work environments.

Building a workforce of diverse women leaders: Understanding intersectional identities.

BACKGROUND: Women have made significant advancements in the dentist workforce, growing from 20% of dentists in 2005 to 34.5% in 2020. Women have also made inroads in academic dentistry. While much scholarship has documented a growing feminization in dentistry and efforts to promote gender equity in the profession, there has been less exploration of the intersectional identities of these women. This manuscript explores how academic dentistry can support diverse women's leadership focusing on intersectional identities. METHODS: Applying the theoretical framework of intersectionality, we assess publicly available data to explore the percentages of faculty and deans who are women of color. Drawing upon best practices in higher education and our personal experiences, we explore opportunities to increase participation and support the advancement of women of color in academia. RESULTS: In the academic year 2018-2019, of the 5066 full-time faculty members, 40.5% were women. Minoritized women comprised 13.4% of full-time faculty members, compared to White women who were 20.6% of full-time faculty. Minoritized women comprised 7.3% of dental school deans, compared to White women who were 17.6% of deans. CONCLUSION: Intersectionality allows for a deeper examination of women in academic dentistry. Women of color are often erased in discussions about women in academic dentistry, even as the profession celebrates the progress made by women. Embracing the intersectional identities of women and by extension, people who identify as gender non-confirming may help dental schools to become humanistic environments where faculty and leadership represent the growing diversity in the profession and in the world.

Lilian Lindsay CBE LLD MDS HDD FDS (Eng&Edin) FSA (1871-1960) The first female to gain a British dental qualification and a leading member of the profession.

In the late 19th century, British women were struggling to enter the dental profession. From a young age, Lilian Lindsay was determined to become a qualified dentist. This paper describes her struggles and successes in attaining her goal, which was reached in 1895 when she became the first, female, qualified dentist. The paper then continues to highlight her subsequent career.

Advancing women, parity, and gender equity.

For centuries, society has called out for transformations to lift all of its members. While it may seem ordinary in our time for women to be dentists or dental educators, the path was neither always easy, nor has true equity been achieved. The modern transformation of dental education and dentistry creates the need for leaders to propose and develop concrete initiatives to advance the profession and benefit society. Areas to address that could lead to increased equity for women include career advancement, leadership opportunities, compensation, career satisfaction, research, and scholarly activity. Our analysis demonstrates that even though the number of full-time female faculty has increased during recent years, most positions (59.5%) at dental schools in the US are held by men (2018-2019). Males were also compensated at higher rates than their female counterparts, and female deans made 7% less in total compensation. Because disparities are evident in pay and academic pathways, new directions and strategies must be employed to ensure parity and gender equity. Facilitating the progress of women in organized dentistry requires efforts of dental academic institutions to invest resources and provide nurturing environments that promote professional performances and leadership skills for women, with these being priorities-considering the current trends that anticipate increased numbers of women in dental academia. All dentists bring their own experiences to the profession, making for rich depth and diversity. As a collective voice, we have a bright future. We can and will move forward together.

Gender and Leadership Positions in Spanish Dentistry.

Dentists in Spain reached equal gender representation in 2012 and the number of female dentists has continued to grow (until 57.3% in 2020). This study aims to increase evidence about the gender distribution on the high responsibility positions and opinion leaders of the dental profession and academia. Composition of the executive comities of the main dental institutions of Spain (regional professional associations, national dental association, and scientific societies), members of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Granada in 2020 and speakers of the main dental congresses of 2019 (due to the lack of congress in 2020) were recorded and analyzed by genders using chi-squared test (P < .05). Mean representation of female dentists in executive committees of professional associations was 35.6%. More than 70% of presidents and vice-presidents of professional colleges and more than 60% of these positions in scientific societies were occupied by male dentists. None of dental congresses of 2019 reached equal gender participation, being 81.3% of lecturers presenting on main auditoriums male dentists. Although dental workforce in Spain is slightly overrepresented by females, leadership positions and figures among Spanish dentists doesn't seem to reflect the gender distribution of the collective. There is a lack of women occupying high-level positions in dentistry that proves the existence of the so-called "glass ceiling effect" on the profession. Further studies about sociodemographic aspects of dental workforce are needed to develop evidence-based policies for the collective.

Dentists in action: a profession on-screen (1913-2013).

Background Fictional portrayals of dentists in feature films have remained largely unexamined to date. The aim of this review is consequently to catalogue and analyse available films produced by US entertainment industry that present 'dentists in action'.Methods Relevant motion pictures were identified by means of keyword-based inquiries in search engines, online databases, websites and by handsearch.Results Between 1913-2013, almost 60 American films with dental treatment as a motif were released. Dentists on-screen appeared mainly in comedies and mostly as supporting actors. Surgical treatments dominated in earlier films and tooth-preserving therapy in later films; other fields of dentistry were marginalised. The time lag between a dental innovation and its screen debut varied between 50 years (x-rays) and 10 years (turbine). For a long time, filmmakers refused to allow female dentists to appear on screen. Although there is no consistent stereotype of a dentist, the figure of 'Dr Awkward' can be attributed to the silent film era, 'Dr Prosperous' to the 1960s/1970s and 'Dr Evil' to the 1980s/1990s.Discussion Popular media does not only reflect aspects of reality; they also create reality and establish a professional image. Thus, filmic representations of dentists have an immediate effect on an audience of millions of movie-goers and television viewers. Greater attention should be devoted to the interplay of cinematic and dental art by both dental professionals and film historians.

Characteristics of oral health literacy in Senegal: A cross-sectional study among women in the Department of Pikine

Senegal having a significant prevalence of socially differentiated oral diseases, oral health literacy (OHL), an individual and social resource, should be considered alongside a remedial response. This work aimed to analyze women's OHL characteristics. A cross-sectional study on 315 women in Pikine County was carried out, using the Oral Health Literacy-Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) for the OHL data collection and a questionnaire for the women's socioeconomic characteristics data. These women had an OHL average score of 6.5±3.1 and a median of 6. Among them, 56.5% had a seemingly low OHL level, a little over 68.9% had a score above the median as regards the "listening, communication and understanding" aspect, 58.4% to "decision making", 55.2% to "understanding numbers" and 33% to "reading and understanding". According to a multivariate analysis, secondary and higher educated women (p<0.001) with an active social network (p<0.023), in a wealthy household (p<0.0001) and of nuclear household type (p<0.036) had a higher OHL level. Women in Pikine have low OHL and are from working- class households. Therefore, oral health policies must take into account the women's social network contribution to the OHL improvement.

Provision of Government-funded and Pro Bono Dental Care: Are There Gender Differences?

BACKGROUND: Government-funded and pro bono dental care are important to populations with limited means. At the same time, dentistry is experiencing a gender shift in the practising profession. As a result, we aimed to determine the factors associated with the provision of government-funded and pro bono dental care and whether there are gender differences. METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis of the results of a 2012 survey of a representative sample of Ontario dentists. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable analyses were carried out. RESULTS: The 867 survey respondents represented a 28.9% response rate. On average, Ontario dentists reported that 15.7% of their practice consisted of government-funded patients and they provided $2242 worth of pro bono care monthly. Male and female dentists reported similar levels of both (p > 0.05). Being a practice owner and having more pediatric patients influenced levels of government-funded patients. Being internationally trained, of European ethnicity, single, and income status affected levels of monthly pro bono care. Gender-stratified analysis revealed that, among female dentists, household responsibilities was a unique factor associated with the proportion of government-funded patients, as was international training, personal income and ethnic origin for levels of pro bono care. CONCLUSION: Overall, male and female dentists are similar in the provision of government-funded and pro bono care, but various factors influence levels of each in both groups.

Gender Differences in Work Status during Early Career of Dentists: An Analysis of National Survey Cohort Data of 10 Years in Japan.

Few studies have evaluated gender differences in young dentists' career focusing on career breaks and return to work. We created a cohort dataset for dentists registered in 2006 using the national survey between 2006-2016 (men, 1680; women, 984), and examined the work setting of dentists by gender 10 years after registration. The proportion of dentists on career break increased each survey year, and was more pronounced in women than in men (2006 to 2016, men, 11.2% to 14.2%; women, 7.9% to 31.0%). The proportion of those who had career breaks between 2006-2016 was 44.8% in men and 62.9% in women. In the multiple logistic regression for examining the associations between those who returned to work compared to those working continuously, in women, the odds ratios (OR) were significantly higher in those working in dental clinics (owner, OR: 5.39; employee, OR: 3.10), and those working part-time (OR: 2.07); however, in men, there was no significant association with part-time work. These results suggest during early career phase, female dentists are more likely than males to take career breaks and choose part-time on returning. These gender differences should be considered for ensuring adequate workforce in dentistry in the future.

Indian women dentists perspectives towards balancing professional, personal and social responsibilities.

INTRODUCTION: The literature on women in dentistry clearly shows the evolution and elevation of women in academic as well as clinical dentistry. Female dentists in India continue to face the need to balance their careers with the competing social and personal responsibilities of marriage, homemaking, and child rearing. AIM: To assess Indian Women Dentists perspectives towards balancing professional, personal, and social responsibilities. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted for 1 month among 159 female dental professionals comprising all the female dental practitioners in Rajahmundry city and all the female interns, postgraduates, and academicians from 2 dental institutions in Rajahmundry city. A 23-item pretested questionnaire was distributed to the participants on the first day and collected after 1 day. The results were analyzed using SPSS software (V.22). The categorical data were analyzed using the χ2 test and P ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 79.2% of study participants agreed that family commitments were not obstacles for their career (P = 0.02), 86.2% responded that women should be successful in both home-making and career and 89.9% of participants reported as not regretting being women and this finding was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Majority of the women perceived that women ought to balance professional, personal, and social responsibilities equally.

A qualitative research analysis of gender-based parities and disparities at work place experienced by female dentists of Vadodara, India.

AIM: To assess the gender-based parities and disparities at work place experienced by female dentists of Vadodara, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-depth face-to-face qualitative semi-structured interviews in English were conducted among 12 female dentists of Vadodara. Female dentists working with one/more male colleague or auxiliary were selected through purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted as per Kvale's principles and recorded using a digital voice recorder. Transcribed data was analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: The recurring themes identified were: (a) Striking work-family balance (b) Dependence on male authority for instating work discipline (c) Male dentists' hostility to "woman in power" concept (d) Male dentists' superiority in technical skills (e) privileges for women dentists. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve the work environment of women dentists. Social support, sensitivity among male colleagues, and generous institutional policies will enable increased contribution from women to the profession.

Dental services provided by dentists in Australia.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the efect of age and gender on dental services provided by dentists in Australia, and compare with previous estimates across the period 1983-1984 to 2013-2014. METHODS: Data were collected by mailed survey from a random sample of Australian dentists. Private sector dentists were the focus of the analysis. Data were weighted to the age and sex distribution of Australian practising dentists. RESULTS: The analysis was based on service logs collected from n = 211 dentists. Adjusted results (rate ratio, 95% CI) showed male dentists had higher endodontic rates (1.7, 1.0-2.9) than female dentists. Dentists aged 40-49 years had higher restorative rates (1.6, 1.1-2.2) but lower preventive rates (0.5, 0.3-0.9) than those aged 20-29 years. Diagnostic services were lower for dentists aged 40-49 to 60+ years (0.8, 0.6-0.9), while denture services were higher for dentists aged 40-49 (11.1, 2.5-48.5) to 60+ years (6.4, 1.2-33.3). Crowns were higher for dentists aged 40-49 (2.4, 1.0-5.6) and 50-59 years (2.9, 1.3-6.6). Diagnostic and preventive services were consistently higher across 1983-1984 to 2013-2014. CONCLUSIONS: Younger dentists provided higher rates of diagnostic and preventive services. Over a 30-year period, there was a consistent trend towards higher provision of diagnostic and preventive services.