Introduction

Abstract

In October 2004, Philadelphia was the site of the Second National Forum on Women's Issues in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Motility disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, problems during pregnancy, and endoscopic challenges that differ in their behavior or are unique to women were explored. This supplement highlights some of the outstanding presentations, including fecal incontinence, proctocolectomy issues, irritable bowel syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, colorectal cancer screening, nonulcer dyspepsia, and fertility and urogenital disorders specific to inflammatory bowel disease. Not included in this supplement but equally interesting to symposium participants were the presentations on the last day that dealt with the personal challenges that women practicing gastroenterology and hepatology face in today's world. Women have come a long way in terms of medical education. In 1948, only 10% of medical school classes were comprised of women. By 1990, this number had risen to 33%. By the year 2001, more than 47% of medical school classes were made up of women (1). Although the percentage of women in the medical community has increased, they are less likely to pick a surgical subspecialty (5%) or medical subspecialty that involves invasive procedures (2). In fact, only 15% of cardiology and gastroenterology fellows are women (3). Women are more likely to pick a specialty based on part-time work and parental leave instead of technical challenge and earning potential (4). Women gastroenterologists are less likely to be trained in advanced endoscopy (4). Of note, in 2001 women comprised only 10.6% of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), 9.9% of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), and 6.5% of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). The family lives of women in gastroenterology are also affected. Women are more likely not to marry (21.1%), more likely to remain childless, and their income is more likely to be less than men in the same position (5). Women report having a harder time rising in an academic career and obtaining grant money. In fact, they are less likely to publish and more likely to contemplate leaving academic medicine (6). A study in 2002 found that only 11% of full professors are women (7). The increasing need for women's leadership in medicine has lead to specific objectives. Greater focus is being placed on gender-specific issues in medicine and effective mentorship of young women physicians is becoming increasingly available. The aim of this meeting was to discuss the diverse challenges to women, both patients and their health-care providers. Ultimately, our hope is to foster an increased awareness of gender-specific issues within gastroenterology and hepatology.