Women in Medicine and Patient Outcomes

Abstract

If you are aware of the disparities between genders in academic medicine, recent publications show multiple areas with opportunities for improvement. Jena and colleagues 1 found that female physicians in academia were less likely than their male counterparts to have reached the rank of full professor (11.9% vs 28.6%). Serge et al 2 reported that start-up funding packages-which help launch faculty careerswere 67.5% higher for men than for women ($980 000 vs $585 000). Finally, Jena and colleagues 3 reported that salaries for female academic physicians are $19 879, or 8.0%, lower than those of their male colleagues.Among the myriad rationalizations for these disparities between the genders in academic medicine, some have suggested that the burden of home responsibilities, leave for childbearing, or part-time schedules might undermine the quality of female physicians' work and explain male physicians' higher salaries. In this issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, Tsugawa et al 4 find that the evidence shows the opposite for all internists, not just those in academia, as detailed above.The group examined data from hospitalized Medicare patients and found that patients treated by female internists fared better than patients treated by male internists, with lower 30day readmissions (15.02% vs 15.57%) and lower 30-day mortality (11.07% vs 11.49%). 4 The differences persisted across 8

Cross‐sectional survey of workplace stressors associated with physician burnout measured by the Mini‐Z and the Maslach Burnout Inventory

“…By coupling the Mini-Z wellness metrics with demographic statistics, it is possible to identify groups who may benefit from targeted support. Female physicians were more likely to experience burnout compared with males, as described elsewhere (Shanafelt, Mungo, et al, 2016), perhaps related to competing home and family duties, gendered expectations for greater listening during office visits (Linzer & Harwood, 2018), or obstacles to professional advancement (Parks & Redberg, 2016). Burnout was most prevalent among academic faculty, and has been shown elsewhere to be proportional to lack of time allocated for the most meaningful aspects of work (Shanafelt et al, 2009).…”

Dressing the Part: Gender Differences in Residents’ Experiences of Feedback in Internal Medicine

“…This can be explicitly taught in the curriculum and reinforced to men and women trainees on the wards, backed by evidence that suggests that patients may have better outcomes when cared for by women internists. 42 We also need to provide clear paths to increase formal and informal mentorship by women, for men to engage with allyship, and to recognize the impactful role that the feedback and support of a supervisor-man or woman-can have on trainees. Addressing these topics may all provide future opportunities for faculty development.…”

Gender dynamics in education and practice of gastroenterology

“…2 Despite these trends, inequities persist for women in medicine and may be more pronounced in fields in which women remain a minority. 3 Women in training may be especially vulnerable, are less likely to promote their academic productivity, and may find it more difficult to advocate for their educational needs. 4 Disparities in representation in academic, organizational, and practice leadership and pay, as well as complexities introduced in pregnancy and child-rearing, have disproportionately affected women across a multitude of specialties, including gastroenterology.…”