Women in thoracic surgery: social media and the value of mentorship.

Social media serves as a tool to fill gaps in current efforts to promote women in cardiothoracic surgery, and, given its global reach, may be a particularly effective modality. Social media has an important role in networking and mentorship, especially for women seeking careers in specialties with relatively sparse female representation, such as cardiothoracic surgery. In addition, social media may facilitate professional interactions, collaboration, growth of online reputations, engagement in continued education, communication of novel research findings, and patient education. Herein, we review the evidence for social media in the networking and mentorship of women in cardiothoracic surgery. Future studies are needed to establish the durability of social media efforts and predictors in its effectiveness in achieving its goals.
Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd.2020.04.11). The series “Women in Thoracic Surgery” was commissioned by the editorial office without any funding or sponsorship. MA serves as an unpaid editorial board member of Journal of Thoracic Disease from Aug 2019 to Jul 2021. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare.
(2021 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.)