key: cord-0050073-negyphcn
authors: ALVAREZ, Ronald D.; GOFF, Barbara A.; CHELMOW, David; GRIFFIN, Todd R.; NORWITZ, Errol R.; LANCEY, John O.DE.
title: Re-Engineering Academic Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a Pandemic World – Much Learned and Done, More to Learn and Do
date: 2020-09-17
journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.09.017
sha: 0cbdedab7624743f20097b2684bce8842c1cde93
doc_id: 50073
cord_uid: negyphcn

nan

reengineering academic Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a pandemic world. 1 

They make excellent points about the impact of COVID-19 on the imbalance of household 56 duties and child care that disproportionally fall on women healthcare professionals when 57 compared to their male colleagues, a point emphasized in a recent JAMA editorial. 2 This is 58 especially true now, when much of the country's K-12 education is being provided virtually from 59 the home environment. We agree that the stress of continuing a career while ensuring their 60 children receive good education and have their other needs met creates significant professional 61 and personal conflicts for women healthcare professionals.

Our manuscript was written during the earliest part of the pandemic in the U.S., before 63 many aspects of its impact and duration were fully understood and when the highest priority 64 facing chairs of academic Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology was assuring the safety of our patients, staff, trainees and faculty. Department leaders have learned much since the early and serving as a role models for other departments in how to handle these difficult issues.

Additional research is needed in how to best address these problems. Acknowledging and 83 discussing gender and racial inequities are an important first step, so we are grateful to Dr.

Terplan and colleagues for highlighting this very important issue. 

Reengineering 107 academic departments of obstetrics and gynecology to operate in a pandemic world and 108 beyond: a joint American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society and Council or University 109 Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology statement