Women Are Less Likely Than Men to Be Full Professors in Cardiology

Advancing women in medical leadership

“…Research is now providing greater understanding on these barriers (Box 1). A sentinel contribution emerged from engagement and interviews with senior Australian leaders in health and academia, concluding that only a minority of leaders retain the belief that women are not interested in or suited to leadership. Rather, key barriers fall under three themes, capacity, perceived capability, and credibility, which once understood, can inform the codesign of effective strategies to progress towards equity in medical leadership .…”

“…Capability relates to perceived capability or confidence women may hold in their ability to lead. Many factors influence this; however, women with similar qualifications are less likely to be in leadership roles, related to factors such as lower application rates despite equivalent or higher qualifications . Although evidence is less abundant in these areas, women are less likely to advocate for or promote themselves, with less nominations for awards or less actively seeking pay rises or career opportunities.…”

“…In Australia and elsewhere, women have attained gender parity in medical school admissions for decades; however, under‐representation of women in senior leadership positions persists, and the age‐old argument that this is due to a time lag or pipeline effect clearly no longer applies . Internationally, medical leadership in public and private hospitals, colleges, societies and academia continues to be inequitable . In the United States, women represent only 3% of chairs and 10% of program directors in general surgery, and after adjustment for age, experience and measures of productivity, women were 37% less likely to be a cardiology professor .…”

“…Internationally, medical leadership in public and private hospitals, colleges, societies and academia continues to be inequitable . In the United States, women represent only 3% of chairs and 10% of program directors in general surgery, and after adjustment for age, experience and measures of productivity, women were 37% less likely to be a cardiology professor . Women move into health care chief executive officer (CEO) positions in the United States at only half the rate of men and, more broadly, substantive income gaps remain .…”

Gender Discrimination Among Academic Physicians

“…7,8 Women physicians earn less than peers who are men [9][10][11] and are not promoted to leadership roles at the same rates as physicians who are men. 10,[12][13][14] Because personal lives are hard to separate from work lives, it is not surprising that physicians who are parents also experience workplace discrimination. Although studies have focused on how women experience discrimination once they become mothers, 15 citing a lack of formal maternity leave policies 16 and insufficient postpartum accommodations, 17,18 it is arguable that all physicians who are parents, regardless of gender, encounter discrimination when they engage in roles traditionally assigned to women, including child rearing.…”