Grit in Surgeons

Background Women in surgery are often told that they are not “tough enough” to be surgeons. A Grit Score provides a validated measure of passion and perseverance, which are aspects of “toughness.” Methods Survey data were collected from residents and attendings in all surgical fields through multiple surgical societies. Grit and burnout were measured using validated measures. Results Among surgeons, gender did not have an impact on Grit Score. Burnout had a statistically significant inverse relationship with Grit Score, and women were more likely to report burnout compared to men surgeons. Conclusions Women in surgery have just as much grit as their male counterparts. Grit should not be a factor in women pursuing a career in surgery.