Article information

Korean J Pancreas Biliary Tract. 2022;27(2):109-110

Publication date (electronic) : 2022 April 30

doi : https://doi.org/10.15279/kpba.2022.27.2.109

Jimin Han

Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea

한지민

대구가톨릭대학교 의과대학 내과학교실

Corresponding author : Jimin Han Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, 33 Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, Daegu 42472, Korea Tel. +82-53-650-3442 Fax. +82-53-621-4487 E-mail; jmhan@cu.ac.kr

Received 2022 April 8; Accepted 2022 April 26.

As of March 24, there is a total of 208 doctors who applied and have been approved for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) certification by Korean Pancreatobiliary Association [1]. Of these doctors, 11 (5.3%) are women. And there is a total of 526 registered members in Korean Pancreatobiliary Association. As of March 24, there are 33 women (6.3%) members. To know the status and perceived barriers, Dr. Hong Sik Lee, President of Korean Pancreatobiliary Association, proposed a panel meeting of female ERCP specialists. This brief report is a summary of an hour and half-long discussion on gender in ERCP which was held on March 24, 2022, in the office of Korean Pancreatobiliary Association (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

The panel meeting in the office of Korean Pancreatobiliary Association. Drs. Seon Mee Park and Joowon Chung joined the meeting via online.

The discussants with affiliations in parentheses were as follow: Drs. Seon Mee Park (Chungbuk National University), Sung Young Yi (Ewha Womans University), Hong Ja Kim (Dankook University), Hyo Jung Kim (Korea University), Jimin Han (Daegu Catholic University), Joo Kyung Park (Sungkyunkwan University), Yun Nah Lee (Soon Chun Hyang University), Eunae Cho (Chonnam National University), Nam Hee Kim (Sungkyunkwan University), Joowon Chung (Eulji University), Hong Sik Lee (Korea University), and Jong Jin Hyun (Korea University) (Fig. 2). According to the discussants, uniqueness of being a ERCP specialist comes from a steep learning curve, exposure to radiation, risk of musculoskeletal injury, and high risk of procedure-related complications. Motivation behind choosing this rocky but exciting path of career included joy of learning and performing advanced endoscopic procedures, dedication to patient care, great mentors, curiosity for scientific knowledge, capability to offer accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, heartfelt interest of faculty members, mesmerizing experience of first ERCP live demonstration, and reliable colleagues. Like previously published studies [2,3], the discussants agreed that the challenges of being a female ERCP specialist included, but not limited to work-life balance, marriage and pregnancy, childcare, lack of female role model/mentors, difficulty in self-advocacy, higher-risk procedure and patient care setting, and radiation exposure during childbearing years. However, nobody experienced overt patriarchy or gender discrimination in choosing and pursuing this career. There were advantages of being a female ERCP specialist. The discussants concurred on more effective communication skills and empathy. To welcome a greater number of younger ERCP specialist (regardless of gender) into Korean Pancreatobiliary Association, the discussants recommended exploration at earlier stage (e.g., student, intern, resident) and inclusion of ERCP in residency training program and gastrointestinal endoscopy subspecialist accreditation.

Fig. 2.

Group picture taken at the end of the meeting. Front row from left to right: Hong Ja Kim, Hong Sik Lee, and Sung Young Yi. Back row from left to right: Jong Jin Hyun, Eunae Cho, Yun Nah Lee, Jimin Han, Joo Kyung Park, Hyo Jung Kim, and Nam Hee Kim.

This panel meeting of female ERCP specialists has been the first one of its kind. Hopefully, this humble beginning will cultivate ambience in which all ERCP specialists feel appreciated and supported.