Plugging the leaky pipeline: Engaging female medical students in radiology education

Abstract

Although women are well-represented in medical schools, they have remained a significant minority in radiology, with little recent progress made in bridging the gender gap. Underrepresentation of women is even more pronounced in radiology leadership and research positions, a phenomenon termed the “leaky pipeline.” We aim to present the root causes of female underrepresentation in radiology based on existing literature and propose specific interventions for this issue based on engaging female medical students in radiology education. Factors contributing to the so-called leaky pipeline can be categorized as underexposure to radiology and preconceived notions, female disinterest in radiology, lack of mentorship, and female underrepresentation in academic authorship and leadership roles. We propose that combined application of early engagement of female medical students in radiology, increasing available female mentorship, and increased female visibility in the field will serve as an effective approach toward the complex, multifactorial problem of female underrepresentation in radiology.