Women in Leadership in Urology: The Case for Increasing Diversity and Equity

There is a persistent male gender predominance in urology, especially with respect to female representation in leadership. We review the current status of women in urology leadership, discuss challenges women face in leadership positions, present the case for adopting inclusive practices that increase diversity and gender equity in urology leadership, and review the potential benefits of such an expansion. We discuss practical strategies to grow the role of women in urologic leader-ship, including increasing mentorship, modifying academic promotion criteria, and addressing implicit bias, while pre -senting a roadmap toward achieving equity and diversity at the highest ranks of urologic leadership. UROLOGY 150: 16?24, 2021. ? 2020 Elsevier Inc. The benefits of diversity in medicine are well documented with respect to its importance for the professional advancement of the field1 and for providing high quality patient care.2 Embracing diversity, whether defined by gender, race, sexual orientation, cultural practices, or other characteristics, broadens perspective and promotes success. This article specifically discusses the importance of including women at all levels of leadership for the benefit of our patients and our profes