Masters of Radiology Panel Discussion: Women in Radiology— How Can We Encourage More Women to Join the Field and Become Leaders?

Abstract

145 outside my domain of expertise, and I will keep my comments brief to hear more from our women on the panel. The sex imbalance in radiology concerns me on a number of levels but perhaps most because of its implications that, as a specialty, we may not be equally welcoming to all. In a time when women are at least equally represented in other medical specialties, it is not due to a sex imbalance in medical students. I do not know exactly what the reasons are, but it is worth assessing women medical students’ perceptions of the nature of the work, career opportunities, role models, work-life balance, etc., and then working to improve where we can. Norbash: To have increasing numbers of women join radiology, it would be helpful to create an atmosphere where women fundamentally are appreciated and valued, given parity where leadership and research positions are concerned, and given the autonomy and resources to create appropriate mentoring and support services. Simultaneously, there will need to be attention paid to resources and need to establish the appropriate environment to secure work-life balance. Specific actions should include formulating match lists to ultimately yield 50% of matched women in each department, formulating policies to ease women residents’ desire to start a family, and balancing faculty to promote and celebrate the advancement of women radiologists to positions of responsibility and leadership. Beauchamp: We also should keep in mind that diversity is an opportunity not an obligation. Extensive research shows that as you increase the diversity of your groups, productivity, creativity, innovation, and problem solving also increase. Also relative to this conversation is the case of diversity in terms of getting more women in medicine. We are missing an opportunity, given the Masters of Radiology Panel Discussion: Women in Radiology— How Can We Encourage More Women to Join the Field and Become Leaders?