Table 1.

Positive influences and potential dissuaders of women considering orthopaedic surgery as a career

Category	Positive influences	Potential dissuaders
Personal attributes	-Intellectually stimulating -Personally satisfying -Enjoy working with my hands/building things -Age and pathology range -Musculoskeletal conditions: operative and not	-Perception that too much strength is required -Dislike of working with hands/building things -Dislike the operating room -Too competitive/concerned about matching
Experience/exposure	-Exposure to MSK medicine in medical school -Strong mentors before or during medical school -Family member is an orthopaedic surgeon -Personal history/interest in sports -Self or family member had orthopaedic surgery	-Lack of exposure to MSK medicine in medical school -Lack of strong mentors before or during medical school -Negative personal experience with orthopaedic surgeon -Negative personal experience with orthopaedic surgery -No sports history or interest
Work/life considerations	-Ability to maintain work/life balance -Autonomy -Compensation/financial security -Collegiality -Enjoy working with other orthopaedic surgeons	-Fear of inability to maintain work/life balance -Lack of autonomy -Lack of financial security -Lack of collegiality

MSK = musculoskeletal.