Giulia Almiron da R. Soares discusses factors shaping women’s interest in urology

At the Society of Women in Urology 15th Annual Clinical Mentoring Conference, Giulia Almiron da R. Soares discussed survey findings examining the factors influencing women’s decisions to pursue careers in urology, with a particular focus on the growing role of social media, mentorship, and research exposure in shaping interest in the specialty.¹ Soares is a medical student at Universidade Metropolitana de Santos in Brazil.

Women have historically been underrepresented in urology, though participation has increased in recent years. In this context, Soares and colleagues conducted an IRB-approved, 68-item survey distributed via email and social media to women in or interested in urology. The survey captured a range of inputs, including demographics, training level, mentorship exposure, and social media engagement. The goal was to better understand when interest in urology develops and what factors are most influential at different stages of training. In total, 90 respondents completed the survey, of whom 54% were attending/practicing urologists.

The findings showed that interest in urology most commonly begins during clinical training, with approximately half of respondents reporting initial interest in their third year of medical school. Having access to a mentor within one’s home institution emerged as a strong driver of interest in urology, cited by roughly half of respondents overall.

Among medical students specifically, social media (24%; P < .001) and research involvement (20%; P = .009) played a more prominent role in shaping specialty choice compared with older trainees. These findings align with broader trends showing that digital platforms are increasingly facilitating mentorship, networking, and access to educational content, particularly for earlier-stage trainees.

Taken together, the results highlight the importance of a multifaceted approach to recruitment aimed at reducing the gender gap in urology. Structured mentorship programs, early research engagement, and intentional use of social media platforms may be key strategies to attract and support women entering the specialty.

REFERENCE
1. Rendo D, Soares GAR, Saffati G, et al. Social Media’s Impact On and Trajectory for Women in Urology: Where are we going? Society of Women in Urology (SWIU) 15th Annual Clinical Mentoring Conference. January 30-31, 2026. Nashville, Tennessee. Abstract 26