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Scientific Oral Presentations

Professional and Personal Development

Session: WIO Hybrid Session

Establishing the State of Sponsorship in Academic Otolaryngology Departments

Monday, October 13, 2025
8:00 AM - 8:06 AM EDT
Location: Wabash Ballroom 1
Disclosure(s):
Maeher R. Grewal, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Kelly E. Daniels, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Kristine A. Smith, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Abigail Pulsipher, PhD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Amanda L. Stapleton, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Jeffrey P. Simons, MD, MMM:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Sponsorship is crucial to career advancement, but anecdotal evidence suggests opportunities differ by gender at the academic level. We aimed to quantify the state of sponsorship in academic otolaryngology based on gender to establish a baseline by which to mark future progress.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in which academic rank, gender, and leadership role were obtained from departmental websites of all ACGME-accredited otolaryngology programs in the United States from June-September 2024.

Results: Of 2,253 academic ranks and 1,113 leadership roles identified across 125 otolaryngology departments, 29.0% and 25.5% were respectively held by women (P < 0.0001). Fourteen of 99 (14.1%) department chairs and 44 of 122 (36.1%) program directors were women (P < 0.0001). Women held 54 of 301 division chief or directorship roles (17.9%, P< 0.01). Two of 26 (4.3%) professor emeriti, 113 of 626 (18.1%) full professor, 186 of 633 (29.4%) associate professor, and 352 of 948 (37.1%) assistant professor roles were held by women (P < 0.0001). No significant difference was observed in the proportion of women on faculty between departments chaired by women versus men, but women held significantly more leadership roles in departments chaired by women versus men (45% vs 25%, P< 0.0005). In departments with female versus male program directors, women held more faculty positions (31% vs 25%, P< 0.05) and leadership positions (43% and 15%, P< 0.0001).

Conclusions: Women held higher proportions of leadership positions within departments chaired by women and programs run by women. Research efforts to determine the factors associated with these trends is ongoing.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Maeher R. Grewal, MD

    Resident Physician
    University of Utah Health
    Salt Lake City, UT, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • CF

    Caitlin D. Faust, Other

    University of Utah School of Medicine, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • KD

    Kelly E. Daniels, MD

    Fellow - Rhinology and Skull Base
    University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    Pittsburgh, PA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Kristine A. Smith, MD

    Associate Professor
    University of Utah
    Salt Lake City, UT, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Abigail Pulsipher, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    University of Utah Health
    Salt Lake City, UT, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • AS

    Amanda L. Stapleton, MD

    Associate Professor Of Otolaryngology
    Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
    Pittsburgh, PA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Jeffrey P. Simons, MD, MMM

    Professor of Otolaryngology and Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs
    UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, PA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Reema K. Padia, MD

    Associate Professor
    Primary Children's Hospital University of Utah Health
    Cottonwood Heights, UT, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.