Career Barriers, Awards, and Advancement Priorities Among Female Members of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons

Introduction: Barriers to professional development among female plastic surgeons are well documented. This study surveyed women members of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons to characterize career stage specific barriers, professional supports, and perceptions of awards and honors. Methods: Female members of the AAPS completed an anonymous 48-item survey administered through Qualtrics from March to April 2025. The survey assessed career characteristics, barriers to career growth, professional supports, award preferences, and barriers to award acceptance. Responses were analyzed descriptively and stratified by current years in practice. Results: Of 113 invited surgeons, 65 (57.5%) responded. The mean participant age was 55.0 years, with 21.7 years in practice. Most respondents (78.5%) worked in academic settings. Barriers differed by career stage. Respondents reflecting on earlier stages of practice frequently cited lack of mentorship, personal and family responsibilities, and limited research funding, whereas respondents later in practice more often reported adversarial colleagues, relative value unit targets, and operating room availability. Desired supports also varied, with leadership training, research support, schedule flexibility, and childcare support emphasized earlier in practice, and board or committee appointments, clinical support, and flexible travel opportunities emphasized later in practice. Across stages, travel burden, perceptions of being too junior, competing responsibilities, and burnout limited award participation. Conclusion: Barriers to advancement differ across career stages, emphasizing the need for tailored support strategies. Practical supports are needed in early career stages, whereas sponsorship becomes increasingly important in later stages. Sponsorship and more accessible, inclusive award structures are key areas for intervention.