Are you strong enough? Are you old enough? Are you the nurse? All three of the orthopedic surgeons below have fielded these questions from patients—and not just once or twice, but on a regular basis. Given the fact that 90% of orthopedic surgeons are men, it’s easy to understand why: Female orthopedic surgeons are not the norm.
Although women are making strides toward equitable representation in many medical fields—for instance, 37% of practicing physicians and almost 23% of general surgeons are female—they make up less than 7% of orthopedic surgeons in the U.S., according to a 2021 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
This lopsided landscape for women in orthopedics is why Johnson & Johnson launched its Women of Orthopaedics (WoO) initiative in 2020, aimed at raising awareness and increasing the representation of women in the field.
“Orthopedics has historically attracted men, especially men who are former athletes or very sports-interested,” says Sharrolyn Josse, Worldwide President of Joint Reconstruction at DePuy Synthes, a Johnson & Johnson MedTech company. “Part of that has to do with the perception that orthopedic surgery is a physically demanding specialty requiring surgeons to have strength and endurance in the operating room,” says Josse, echoing research that suggests additional factors, including concerns about work/life balance and a lack of strong mentorship, also play a role.
The WoO initiative hopes to change those perceptions by hosting talks at medical conferences, holding networking events for women in orthopedics and harnessing social media to raise the initiative’s profile. “There is a great need to improve the percentage of women and diversity overall among not just orthopedic surgeons, but also on the business side of orthopedics,” says Josse. “We know that a lack of diversity in the field has a detrimental effect on a diverse patient population and leads to inequities in healthcare.”
We spoke to three female orthopedic surgeons about what drew them to a career in orthopedics, how they navigate the challenges of working in a male-dominated field and their advice for other women looking to follow in their footsteps.
Danielle Ponzio, M.D., joint replacement specialist, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute
What inspired her to become an orthopedic surgeon: Although Dr. Ponzio (shown, above left) was athletic from a young age, it wasn’t a game-changing injury that drew her to orthopedics—as is the case with some orthopedic surgeons. “My father is an orthopedic surgeon, and I was fascinated by that,” says Dr. Ponzio. “As a young girl, I went around the hospital with him, met his patients and I had a sense that what he was doing was important, that he was helping people.”
What her job entails: Dr. Ponzio specializes in adult reconstruction, or joint replacement, with a subspecialty in hip and knee issues, often resulting from arthritis. She also works with patients who may need revision surgery from previous joint replacements. “I see extremes at both ends,” she says. “Some people are very active and looking to get back into sports; others are coming in a wheelchair and hoping to stand and walk again.”
What it’s like working in a male-dominated field: “During my training, I saw myself on an even playing field with my peers,” says Dr. Ponzio. Being one of the guys was nothing new: She had played male-dominated sports (ice hockey, rowing) throughout high school and college and found herself outnumbered as a molecular biology major at Princeton. “I embraced what I was interested in and didn’t look at it as male versus female,” she says. “I wanted to earn my place with work ethic and performance.”
Now that she’s a mom (her twin daughters are 4 years old and her son is 2), she wonders if that sort of thinking was a bit “innocent and naive.” The juggling required to be a full-time surgeon and mother—“putting my patients first and my children first”—is starkly different from what she sees her male counterparts going through.
That’s where initiatives like WoO come in: “Women getting together, forming groups, being with like-minded people,” says Dr. Ponzio. “One of our fellows last year had a baby, and I was teaching her not only surgical skills but things like how to navigate [breast] pumping in between cases.”
Advice for women going into orthopedic surgery: Look for a mentor or sponsor early on, Dr. Ponzio advises, and don’t fall prey to imposter syndrome or too much self-doubt, which she says is a common topic among female colleagues. While her attitude early on was “put your head down and work harder,” now her approach is “to keep my head up, listen more and try to change things to make sure there’s fairness in the system and things are accessible to women.” For instance, she says, “surgeons who have children or who are caregivers may need a somewhat different schedule. We have to be open and flexible to facilitate that.”
Leah Brown, M.D., sports medicine specialist, Banner Health, and team doctor for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury
What inspired her to become an orthopedic surgeon: Dr. Brown (shown, top center) was a dedicated gymnast from a young age, and ultimately a two-time NCAA National Gymnastics champion. After a spine injury and an ankle fracture, her treatment by sports medicine docs “made me fall in love with orthopedics,” she says. “Plus, I love doing things with my hands. Growing up, I’d spend time with my dad making furniture or tinkering with the car,” making orthopedic surgery feel like the right fit.
What her job entails: Dr. Brown treats injuries to the knee, shoulder and elbow and teaches residents and fellows at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. “I love that my job isn’t about life or death but about quality of life and function,” she says.
What it’s like working in a male-dominated field: As a minority within a minority—there are a little over 50 Black female orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. out of a field of nearly 23,000—“I faced a lot of challenges,” says Dr. Brown. “I used to try to gloss over the bias, but it’s important to talk about it so we can all learn from it. I’ve had people assume I’m on the custodial team and tell me to change the sheets. Now I correct them, and I also ask, ‘Why did you make that assumption?’ ” Not to shame them, Dr. Brown explains, but to start a conversation about implicit bias.
When Dr. Brown had her now-5-year-old twins—with the help of a surrogate—she discovered another challenge unique to female surgeons. “The silent sacrifice many women make is to delay starting a family,” she says.
Her military service: After earning her M.D., Dr. Brown completed her surgical training at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. Later, she was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, receiving nine military honors and awards, including the Bronze Star. “It sounds kind of corny, but I joined the military to serve my country and to be part of something bigger than myself,” she says. The experience helped her see firsthand what it’s like to be a woman in radically different parts of the world. “I was able to see the strength of women around the world who endure injustice just because of their gender.”
Advice for women going into orthopedic surgery: “Be thoughtful on the battles, because not everything’s a fight,” advises Dr. Brown. “Sometimes you’ll be the square peg in the round hole. But keep in mind life is a journey and you don’t get the years back, so make sure you enjoy the process.”
Ashley Rogerson, M.D., spine specialist, University of Rochester Medical Center
What inspired her to become an orthopedic surgeon: “I knew going into med school that I wanted to be a surgeon and since I was an athlete in college, orthopedics seemed like a natural step,” says Dr. Rogerson (shown, top right). At first, however, a spine specialty seemed like a step too far.
“Spine surgery can be daunting and intimidating, and my first weeks on a spine rotation I felt overwhelmed, like ‘Oh gosh, I could never see myself doing this.’” Working on a complicated cervical laminectomy, an operation done from the back of the neck to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, and getting kudos from the attending surgeon “flipped the switch for me,” says Dr. Rogerson. She was all in.
What her job entails: Dr. Rogerson treats both trauma (skiing accidents, falls off a roof) and degenerative conditions like spinal cord compression. “I also see patients with infections in the spine or with primary or metastatic tumors that affect the spine,” she says. “We see it all.”
What it’s like being in a male-dominated field: “The old stereotype of a classic orthopedic surgeon is a tall, strong, white dude,” says Dr. Rogerson, and she feels that can deter some women from entering the field. Like virtually all of her female colleagues, she fields the “Are you the surgeon?” question on a regular basis. “When I was a resident, those moments tended to motivate me. Now, after eight years and hundreds of surgeries, I’m worn down by it.”
Having a mentor helps.
Dr. Rogerson and her wife have two children, ages 4 and 6. She’s grateful for the network of females who help advise on how to master the juggling act all working moms take on. “I have a great female spine surgeon mentor from fellowship and a network of women in ortho who are all very supportive of each other,” she says. “Early on in residency there weren’t many female attendings in my training program, but there were plenty of men who supported and advocated for me along the way. I noticed that my closest relationships were with men who had daughters.”
Her work with Pride Ortho: Dr. Rogerson is one of the original board members of Pride Ortho, a nonprofit founded in 2021 to provide mentorship and networking among LGBTQ orthopedic trainees. “It’s such a stigma to be ‘out’ in orthopedics, because it’s so male-dominated,” she says. “Research shows that the queer community is mistrusting of healthcare professionals in general, which affects their health at every level. Having a doctor who looks like you improves outcomes,” she says, whether that means being gay, Black, female or part of an ethnic community.
Advice for women going into orthopedic surgery: “Try not to compare yourself to others,” says Dr. Rogerson. “As surgeons we tend to compare—this person’s further ahead than me, they’re publishing more. Figure out what works for you and focus on what gives you energy. For me, that’s teaching, working with Pride Ortho and being with family. Work will come and go, and you’ll eventually retire, but these are the people who’ll be with you to the end.”
