Abstract
Women are underrepresented in medical leadership positions; however, representation of women among academic oncology leadership is unknown. To evaluate representation of women overall and in leadership positions in academic medical oncology (MO), radiation oncology (RO), and surgical oncology (SO) programs and to examine the association of women leadership with overall faculty representation of women per program. In this cross-sectional study, MO, RO, and SO training program websites were queried from October 2018 through June 2019. All faculty from 265 of 273 accredited MO, RO, and SO training programs (97.1%) were included. Gender. Observed proportions of women in leadership positions compared with the expected proportion of overall women faculty in MO, RO, and SO were assessed. Rates of representation of women across each MO, RO, and SO program's faculty based on the presence or absence of a woman in a leadership position were compared. Of 6030 total faculty, only 2164 (35.9%) were women. Total representation of women among MO, RO, and SO faculty was 37.1% (1563 of 4215), 30.7% (389 of 1269), and 38.8% (212 of 546), respectively. Women composed only 21.7% (30 of 138), 11.7% (11 of 94), and 3.8% (1 of 26) of MO, RO, and SO chair positions, respectively. The observed proportion of women in chair positions was significantly lower than the expected proportion for MO, RO, and SO. In all, 47.9%, 33%, and 18.5% of MO, RO, and SO programs, respectively, had at least 1 woman in a leadership position (program director or chair). Programs with 1 or more women in a leadership position were associated with a higher mean (SD) percentage of women faculty than those without at least 1 woman leader in MO (40.7% [12.5%] vs 33.1% [11.0%]; P < .001) and RO (36.2% [13.3%] vs 23.4% [12.3%]; P < .001) but not SO (40.2% [15.4%] vs 31.4% [16.9%]; P = .29). Gender disparity exists in academic MO, RO, and SO faculty, which is magnified at the chair level. Programs in MO and RO with a woman physician in a leadership position were associated with a higher percentage of women faculty, but this was not true for SO. These data will serve as a benchmark to monitor progress toward a more balanced workforce.
Highlights
Gender diversification of a physician workforce currently predominantly composed of men in the United States is an ongoing goal.[1]
Programs with 1 or more women in a leadership position were associated with a higher mean (SD) percentage of women faculty than those without at least 1 woman leader in medical oncology (MO) (40.7% [12.5%] vs 33.1% [11.0%]; P < .001) and radiation oncology (RO) (36.2% [13.3%] vs 23.4% [12.3%]; P < .001) but not surgical oncology (SO) (40.2% [15.4%] vs 31.4% [16.9%]; P = .29)
Gender disparity exists in academic MO, RO, and SO faculty, which is magnified at the chair level
Summary
Gender diversification of a physician workforce currently predominantly composed of men in the United States is an ongoing goal.[1] While some progress has been made, with the number of women enrolling in US medical schools exceeding the number of men for the first time,[2] women remain underrepresented in academic medicine.[3]. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate that women are underrepresented in key leadership positions,[5] which has been recently acknowledged by the World Health Organization.[6] At this time, the level of women faculty representation in academic oncology, in leadership positions, is unknown. This study evaluates representation of women in academic MO, RO, and surgical oncology (SO) departmental leadership positions. We examine the association of having a woman in a leadership position with overall rates of women faculty representation
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