Gender differences in faculty rank and subspecialty choice in academic medical oncology.

Abstract

11013 Background: The gender gap in the United States healthcare field has been closing. In 2000 women made up 45% of medical school matriculants and by 2017 outnumbered men. Based on our personal observations at academic meetings, however, we hypothesized that gender differences persist in faculty rank and subspecialty choice in academic medical oncology. Methods: We created a database of medical oncologists at the top 15 cancer centers as ranked by the U.S News and World Report in 2019. We identified all medical oncology faculty in the subspecialty fields of breast, gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary (GU) and thoracic oncology from institution websites (12/2019-1/2020). Faculty working only at satellite clinics (i.e. non-research appointments), and the few faculty in more than one subspecialty group, were excluded. Gender (determined by pictures), subspecialty and academic rank were recorded based on data from institution websites and professional social networking sites. Proportions of men and women in each subspecialty and at each faculty rank were calculated; odds ratios (OR) and χ2 tests were used for comparisons. Results: 346 men and 244 women were identified as subspecialty medical oncologists, comprising 59% and 41% of faculty members, respectively. Gender representation by subspecialty and academic rank are shown in the Table. Breast oncology had more women oncologists than men (OR 2.9, p < 0.001); GU oncology had fewer women (OR 0.3, p < 0.001). The representation of women and men was comparable at the lower academic ranks (instructor, assistant and associate professors). But at the top rank of full professor, only 31% were women (OR 0.54, p = 0.001). Notably, even in breast oncology, the one subspecialty with a greater proportion of women, women still comprised a lower proportion of full professors than men. Conclusions: Gender differences persist in academic medical oncology. At the top 15 US cancer centers, gender differences are seen in subspecialty representation, with more men in GU oncology and more women in breast oncology. Fewer women than men achieve the rank of full professor, even in breast oncology. Additional research is needed to explore the causes of, and contributors to, these differences as well as their impact. [Table: see text]