VIDEO: Flexible parental leave policies increase inclusivity, reduce burnout in GI
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In the latest installment of Healio’s diversity, equity and inclusion series with ASGE, Elizabeth Paine, MD, outlines how having clear and thorough parental leave policies promotes inclusivity and job retention in gastroenterology.
“More than 25 years ago, the four main GI societies came together to create a recommendation for 8 weeks of parental leave for gastroenterologists,” Paine, deputy associate chief of staff for specialty care at G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said. “However, despite this recommendation, it has not been implemented widely. It still remains an area with inequities and biases toward those who choose to have children or who wish to become pregnant while continuing their careers in gastroenterology.”
According to Paine, studies of female internal medicine residents who are interested in gastroenterology show that concerns about fertility and parental leave policies affect specialty choices and fellowship programs. These concerns persist following fellowship and can ultimately lead to delayed pregnancy and higher rates of infertility compared with their male colleagues.
Further, inflexible parental leave policies that focus solely on the birth parent also have far-reaching effects on fathers and LGBTQ+ family units, she noted.
“This has been an issue that has been on the horizon for a while and the educational societies, particularly the American College of Graduate Medical Education, created new requirements in reference to GI trainees in 2022,” Paine said. “This mandated that programs must give trainees a minimum of 6 weeks of paid medical, parental or caregiver leave.”
She continued, “Having a clear and thorough parental leave policy is also beneficial for hospital leadership, because it improves recruitment and retention and reduces burnout.”
References:
- Ali S, et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;doi:10.14309/01.ajg.0000778740.88966.0a.
- Feld LD, et al. Gastroenterology. 2023;doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2023.08.014.
- Wegermann K. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2023.01.040.
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