Representation of Women in the US Physician Workforce

Gender inequities continue to exist within the healthcare workforce. Despite the nearly equal matriculation rates at US medical schools of men and women, fewer women serve in positions of senior leadership within the industry. The barriers to an upward career trajectory are multifactorial. Women are less likely to attain grant funding, speaker invitations, and publications, which are academic currency critical for career advancement. Stereotypes of strong leadership tend to harm women more than men. In addition, the gender-based pay gap continues to persist at all levels in healthcare. Promoting women leadership in medicine not only benefits fellow women physicians, but also allows for the development of systemic policies that better serve all patient populations. In short, equal representation for women in leadership benefits health systems in their entirety. This chapter reviews historical trends in the representation of women in medicine, highlighting major developments and the inequities that persist today. Taking a solutions-based approach, the authors also outline possible suggestions to advance on the path to gender parity in medicine.