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D
URING THE PAST four decades,
an increasing number of
women have joined t he
academic medica l work-
force. However, women make up only
20 percent of full-time faculty in the
fi eld and lack parity with men in senior
positions. Researchers examined gender-
related issues by conducting telephone
interviews with 44 individuals from
23 randomly selected private and public
medical schools. The authors found that:
+ The gender climate varies signifi cantly
among different institutions.
+ In terms of both rank and leadership,
women lack parity with men.
+ Retention of women in academic medi-
cine is a challenge. The researchers
dubbed this the "leaky pipeline."
+ Compensation is unequal between
the sexes.
+ Women bear a greater share of family
responsibilities, which contributes to
their lack of progress.
"Key informants described improve-
ments in the climate of academic
medicine for women as modest," the
authors conclude. "Medical schools
were noted to vary by department in the
gender experience of women, often with
no institutional oversight. Our fi ndings
speak to the need for systematic review
by medical schools and by accrediting
organizations to achieve gender equity
in academic medicine." ■
Academic Medicine:
Bridging the Gender Gap?
By Katy Mena-Berkley
A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN THE JOURNAL OF WOMEN'S HEALTH SUGGESTS A
VARIETY OF FACTORS LIMIT WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT IN ACADEMIC MEDICINE.
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M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS San Antonio
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