Sarah M Temkin1, Lisa Rubinsak2, Michelle F Benoit3, Linda Hong4, Uma Chandavarkar5, Christine A Heisler6, Laurel K Berry7, B J Rimel8, William P McGuire9. 1. Anne Arundel Medical Center, 2003 Medical Parkway, Suite 301, Annapolis, MD 21401, United States of America. Electronic address: stemkin@aahs.org. 2. Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, United States of America. Electronic address: hb3463@wayne.edu. 3. Kaiser Permanente Washington, United States of America. Electronic address: Michelle.F.Benoit@kp.org. 4. Loma Linda University School of Medicine, United States of America. Electronic address: Lihong@llu.edu. 5. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, United States of America. Electronic address: uma.chandavarkar@bannerhealth.com. 6. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, United States of America. Electronic address: cheisler@wisc.edu. 7. Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, United States of America. Electronic address: lkberry@wakehealth.edu. 8. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, United States of America. Electronic address: Bobbie.Rimel@cshs.org. 9. Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Gynecologic oncology includes increasing percentages of women. This study characterizes representation of faculty by gender and subspecialty in academic department leadership roles relevant to the specialty. METHODS: The American Association of Medical Colleges accredited schools of medicine were identified. Observational data was obtained through institutional websites in 2019. RESULTS: 144 accredited medical schools contained a department of obstetrics and gynecology with a chair; 101 a gynecologic oncology division with a director; 98 a clinical cancer center with a director. Women were overrepresented in academic faculty roles compared to the US workforce (66 vs 57%, p < 0.01) but underrepresented in all leadership roles (p < 0.01). Departments with women chairs were more likely to have >50% women faculty (90.2 vs 9.8%, p < 0.01); and have larger faculties (80.4 vs 19.6% >20 faculty, p = 0.02). The cancer center director gender did not correlate to departmental characteristics. A surgically focused chair was also associated with >50% women faculty (85.7 vs 68.3%, p = 0.03); faculty size >20 (85.7 vs 61.4%, p < 0.01); and a woman gynecologic oncology division director (57.6 vs 29.4%, p < 0.01; 68.4 vs 31.7%, p < 0.01) and gynecologic oncology fellowship (50 vs 30.4%, p < 0.01; 59.1 vs 32%, p < 0.01). Gynecologic oncology leadership within cancer centers was below expected when incidence and mortality to leadership ratios were examined (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Within academic medical schools, women remain under-represented in obstetrics and gynecology departmental and cancer center leadership. Potential benefits to gynecologic oncology divisions of inclusion women and surgically focused leadership were identified.
OBJECTIVE: Gynecologic oncology includes increasing percentages of women. This study characterizes representation of faculty by gender and subspecialty in academic department leadership roles relevant to the specialty. METHODS: The American Association of Medical Colleges accredited schools of medicine were identified. Observational data was obtained through institutional websites in 2019. RESULTS: 144 accredited medical schools contained a department of obstetrics and gynecology with a chair; 101 a gynecologic oncology division with a director; 98 a clinical cancer center with a director. Women were overrepresented in academic faculty roles compared to the US workforce (66 vs 57%, p < 0.01) but underrepresented in all leadership roles (p < 0.01). Departments with women chairs were more likely to have >50% women faculty (90.2 vs 9.8%, p < 0.01); and have larger faculties (80.4 vs 19.6% >20 faculty, p = 0.02). The cancer center director gender did not correlate to departmental characteristics. A surgically focused chair was also associated with >50% women faculty (85.7 vs 68.3%, p = 0.03); faculty size >20 (85.7 vs 61.4%, p < 0.01); and a woman gynecologic oncology division director (57.6 vs 29.4%, p < 0.01; 68.4 vs 31.7%, p < 0.01) and gynecologic oncology fellowship (50 vs 30.4%, p < 0.01; 59.1 vs 32%, p < 0.01). Gynecologic oncology leadership within cancer centers was below expected when incidence and mortality to leadership ratios were examined (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Within academic medical schools, women remain under-represented in obstetrics and gynecology departmental and cancer center leadership. Potential benefits to gynecologic oncology divisions of inclusion women and surgically focused leadership were identified.
Authors: Linda J Hong; Lisa Rubinsak; Michelle F Benoit; Deanna Teoh; Uma Chandavarkar; Amy Brockmeyer; Erin Stevens; Yevgeniya Ioffe; Sarah M Temkin Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2022-04-06 Impact factor: 5.738