DEIBXXEM2420 - CME/CMLE - Women Physicians in Academic Pathology Leadership-Women Physicians in Academic Pathology Leadership

Women Physicians in Academic Pathology Leadership

Pdf Summary

The research study led by Miriam R. Brown and colleagues focuses on gender representation in academic pathology leadership roles across the United States. It provides an analysis of the gender composition among departmental chairs, residency program directors, and subspecialty fellowship directors within Accredited Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)–accredited residency programs and American Board of Pathology–certified subspecialty fellowships.<br /><br />**Key Findings:**<br />1. Women hold 52.1% of residency program director positions, higher than the gender composition of pathologists at similar academic ranks.<br />2. Women occupy fewer subspecialty fellowship director roles (45.0%) and substantially fewer department chair positions (31.8%).<br />3. The gender ratio in fellowship director positions varies across subspecialties, with only three subspecialties (cytopathology, pediatric pathology, forensic pathology) seeing more women directors.<br /><br />**Geographic Variation:**<br />- The gender composition of leaders varies significantly by region. For instance, the West had the lowest proportion of women residency program directors, and the Northeast had the fewest women in fellowship director and department chair roles.<br />- Differences were noted when stratified by U.S. Census and Department of Health and Human Services regions.<br /><br />**Conclusions:**<br />The study underscores persistent gender disparities in higher administrative roles within academic pathology. Despite adequate representation in educational leadership roles, women are underrepresented as department chairs, consistent with trends seen across other medical specialties. This study calls for enhanced initiatives towards achieving gender equity in academic leadership, which is crucial for improving diversity in medicine and thereby optimizing patient care and scientific advancement.<br /><br />**Suggestions:**<br />Promotion assessments and professional support structures need to address these disparities to ensure women have equitable representation in all levels of academic leadership. Further investigative efforts are required to understand regional discrepancies and their impact on gender equity in academic pathology. <br /><br />The study's conclusions highlight an ongoing need to elevate more women to higher leadership and administrative positions in academic medicine through targeted policies and practices addressing gender biases.

Keywords

gender representation

academic pathology

leadership roles

Miriam R. Brown

residency program directors

subspecialty fellowship directors

department chairs

geographic variation

gender disparities

gender equity