Abstract
BackgroundThough the proportion of women in medical schools has increased, gender disparities among those who pursue research careers still exists. In this study, we seek to better understand the main factors contributing to the existing gender disparities among medical students choosing to pursue careers in medical research.MethodsA secondary cross-sectional cohort analysis of previously published data was conducted using a 70-item survey that was sent to 16,418 medical students at 32 academic medical centers, and was IRB exempt from the need for ethical approval at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania. Data was collected from September 2012 to December 2014. Survey results were analyzed using chi-square tests and Cramer’s V to determine gender differences in demographic characteristics (training stage, race/ethnicity, marital status, parental status, financial support, and parental career background), career sector choice, career content choice, specialty choice, foreseeable career obstacles, and perceptions about medical research careers.ResultsFemale respondents were more likely to be enrolled in MD-only programs, while male respondents were more likely to be enrolled in MD/PhD programs. More male students selected academia as their first-choice career sector, while more female respondents selected hospitalist as their first-choice career sector. More female respondents identified patient care and opportunities for community service as their top career selection factors, while more male respondents identified research and teaching as their top career selection factors. Student loan burden, future compensation, and work/life balance were the most reported obstacles to pursuing a career in medical research.ConclusionsThere are many factors from a medical student’s perspective that may contribute to the existing gender disparities in pursuing a career in medical research. While much progress has been made in attracting nearly equal numbers of men and women to the field of medicine, active efforts to bridge the gap between men and women in medical research careers are needed.
Highlights
Physician-scientists have long been considered an endangered species and the female physician-scientist an even more rare entity [1]
Previous studies have identified factors influencing interest in research careers among MD and MD/PhD students [14], this study aims to provide a secondary analysis of this data to investigate gender differences among various factors contributing to medical students’ interest in pursuing medical research
MD candidates interested in researchintensive careers (MD-RI) were identified by their career intentions of wanting a research to clinical duty ratio of 50% or greater, which reflects the NIH guidelines for surgeon scientists
Summary
Physician-scientists have long been considered an endangered species and the female physician-scientist an even more rare entity [1]. Despite efforts to attract physicians to medical research, interest has continued to dwindle, especially among female students. According to a 2014 report from the NIH, only 1.5% of MDs consider research their primary focus with even fewer physicians receiving funding as principal investigators on NIH grants (0.9%), split evenly between MDs and MD-PhDs [6]. Whereas the number of nonphysician (PhD) NIH-funded investigators has increased by 50% over the last 20 years, the number of NIH-funded physician-scientists has essentially remained constant. Though the proportion of women in medical schools has increased, gender disparities among those who pursue research careers still exists. We seek to better understand the main factors contributing to the existing gender disparities among medical students choosing to pursue careers in medical research
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