Gender and leadership: Continued progress in academic dermatology

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.03.054
• Publication Date: 2023-04-19T00:33:34Z
• Authors: Preetha Kamath; Nallammai Muthiah; Anisha Venkatesh; Melissa Pugliano-...
• Keywords: Dermatopathology; Academic Medicine; Quarter (Canadian coin); Representation

To the Editor: In 2020, 51% of active physicians in dermatology United States were women, making one most equally-represented fields medicine.1Association AM Active Physicians by Sex and Specialty, 2019. Association American Medical Colleges, 2019Google Scholar Over last quarter-century, women have comprised majority residents. Looking at gender leadership 2016, only 24% academic chairs women.2Nambudiri V.E. Shi C.R. Vleugels R.A. Olbricht S.M. Academic -- addressing gap.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2018; 4: 236-237Crossref PubMed Scopus (10) Google Regarding fellowships, there significantly fewer female program directors for micrographic surgery dermatopathology fellowships.3Shi S. Nambudiri dermatology: a nationwide survey.J Am Acad 2017; 77: 782-784Abstract Full Text PDF (20) These statistics suggested that, despite nearly equal representation earlier career stages, was work to be done ascend pipeline higher roles. Studies shown that with mentors tend attain promotions are more likely publish scientific work.4Aagaard E.M. Hauer K.E. A cross-sectional descriptive study mentoring relationships formed medical students.J Gen Intern Med. 2003; 18: 298-302Crossref (96) Scholar,5Levinson W. Kaufman K. Clark B. Tolle S.W. Mentors role models medicine.West 1991; 154: 423-426PubMed We sought assess update current state performing analysis US programs. performed all dermatologists participating certified residency identified using Accreditation Council Graduate Education website. Accredited programs cross referenced Residency Navigator Directory on Doximity faculty listings from websites. Faculty without training excluded analysis. Data compiled into an encompassing database. Statistical involved 2-sample proportion tests, Wilcoxon's signed rank Wilcoxon sum tests. Significance assessed alpha = 0.05 level P values 2-sided. All statistical analyses Stata software Mac, Version 17.0 (StataCorp. 2021. Software: Release 17). Table I demonstrates characteristics practicing territories as Among country, men department full professors compared women. There roughly distribution between directors. With regards Mohs fellowship directors, while pediatrics The director roles not different. Fig 1 visually depicts positions among territories.Table ICharacteristics 2021 departmentMalen (%)Femalen (%)P valuePosition Chair63 (61%)41 (39%).03 PD69 (48%)74 (52%).63 APD16 (31%)36 (69%).01 ProfessorFull4.2 ± 2.83.7 4.2.08∗Wilcoxon's test.Associate2.0 1.52.8 2.1.01∗Wilcoxon's test.Assistant2.9 2.34.3 2.8<.01∗Wilcoxon's test.Clinical1.6 1.21.8 1.4.48∗Wilcoxon's test.Associate clinical2.1 1.52.3 2.0.75∗Wilcoxon's test.Assistant clinical3.1 2.53.4 3.2.22∗Wilcoxon's test.Degrees Chair2.2 0.382.3 0.45.33†Wilcoxon test. PD2.1 0.392.1 0.25.32†Wilcoxon test.Publications Chair40.0 24.041.2 22.9.82†Wilcoxon PD26.8 18.031.8 18.3.14†Wilcoxon APD13.8 6.613.1 10.6.57†Wilcoxon test.Fellowships microsurgery38 (67%)19 (33%).01 Pediatrics0 (0%)9 (100%)<.01 Dermatopathology30 (59%)21 (41%).21Continuous variable presented mean SD testing two-sample tests categorical variables sign-rank or rank-sum continuous variables. level.APD, Associate director; PD, director.∗ test.† Open table new tab Continuous level. APD, director. Our results indicate no significant differences departmental leaders number degrees publications. suggest gap is smaller than time it studied. This should taken sign progress, though needs done. Given study-design, tracking challenge since online websites provide snapshot time. authors attempted mitigate this limitation querying robust multiple sources. As we continue bridge gaps our field, important advocating hold aspiring medicine. None disclosed.