Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Challenging gender bias in the house of medicine

Barbara McAneny, MD
Policy
September 21, 2018
36 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

ama_logoA guest column by the American Medical Association, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Since the 1970s, women have been carving out an increasingly large role in medicine, and the profession is becoming more representative of our society. September is Women in Medicine Month, a great time to acknowledge the changing face of medicine, but also to note that female physicians are not immune from the challenges that face women in every other workplace across the country.

Today, fully half of all U.S. medical school students – and graduates – are women. And those students are receiving instruction from women more often than ever before. Nearly 40 percent of the faculty posts at the nation’s medical schools are held by women, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Yet the incomes of female physicians, both in practice and in academia, trail those of their male peers by a sizable and widening gap. A 2017 survey of some 65,000 physicians across 40 specialties by Doximity, the nation’s largest medical social network, showed female physicians earned an average of 27.7 percent less than their male peers.

And it’s important to note that lower compensation for female physicians persisted even after adjustments were made for differences in age, areas of specialization, faculty rank, productivity measures, and other factors.

The American Medical Association is firmly committed to all physicians’ lifelong learning and serves as an ally for both patients and the profession. We not only support reducing gender bias in pay, we’ve taken concrete action to do so. In June, the AMA’s House of Delegates agreed to push for pay structures based on objective, gender-neutral criteria, while simultaneously promoting greater transparency in compensation processes and mitigating implicit bias. Further, the AMA has reaffirmed its commitment to equal pay for equal work within its own workforce through routine salary assessments and other steps.

Even so, eliminating the outdated, paternalistic attitudes that persist both within medicine and across society will take much more than advocacy. Many of us will need to drastically readjust our thinking, if not our entire worldview.

Consider the case of Texas internist, who in the September issue of the Dallas Medical Journal said he believes female physicians earn less because they “do not work as hard and do not see as many patients as male physicians.” Instead, he said, women doctors prioritize “something else … family, social, whatever.”

This perspective was roundly – and rightly – criticized by many women and men both inside and outside of medicine. However, judging by the fact that some people have come to his defense, outdated attitudes persist in some quarters.

Earlier this month, the AMA hosted a forum for women in leadership in medicine. There, I heard many ideas, concerns, and stories. My takeaway? Physicians must work together to alter the norms and must call on our colleagues and our profession to honor our training, our credentials and our licenses, for which we all paid the same price. We all earned the same title through a rigorous and universal standard. That same standard should be applied to opportunities and to compensation.

Within the medical field, we must also check our own biases where appropriate, and speak out against attitudes that hold women back in medicine, in business and in life. The face of medicine is changing, so let’s lead this change ethically. We all must be agents for this change.

Barbara McAneny is president, American Medical Association.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

A patient waits. And waits.

September 21, 2018 Kevin 46
…
Next

What physicians need to make a telehealth program stand out

September 21, 2018 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
A patient waits. And waits.
Next Post >
What physicians need to make a telehealth program stand out

Related Posts

  • Close the gender pay gap in medicine

    Linda Girgis, MD
  • Addressing gender violence in medicine

    Kelsey Priest, MPH and Caroline King, MPH
  • How social media can advance humanism in medicine

    Pooja Lakshmin, MD
  • Take politics out of science and medicine

    Allison Neitzel, MD
  • 5 reasons to get involved in organized medicine

    Frances Mei Hardin, MD
  • The difference between learning medicine and doing medicine

    Steven Zhang, MD

More in Policy

  • Unveiling the global pandemic threat: insights into risk factors and urgent measures for prevention

    Ton La, Jr., MD, JD
  • Why the WHO’s pandemic accord is critical for global health care

    Elizabeth Métraux
  • The revolutionary Kaiser-Geisinger deal: How health care giants are reshaping the industry and empowering patients

    Robert Pearl, MD
  • Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Uncovering the truth about racial health inequities in America: a book review

    John Paul Mikhaiel, MD
  • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

    Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • From medical student to intern: Discovering a deeper connection with patients

      Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the global pandemic threat: insights into risk factors and urgent measures for prevention

      Ton La, Jr., MD, JD | Policy
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Master time management with 7 productivity strategies for optimal results

      Farzana Hoque, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 3 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • New Standard in Operable EGFR-Positive Lung Cancer
  • New Ovarian Cancer Drug Extends Survival in Resistant Disease
  • Neoadjuvant Chemo Flops Versus Upfront Surgery for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
  • Why Can't I Be Both a Good Doctor and a Good Mother?
  • Novel Anti-HER2 Drugs 'Impressive' in Advanced Biliary Cancer

Meeting Coverage

  • New Standard in Operable EGFR-Positive Lung Cancer
  • New Ovarian Cancer Drug Extends Survival in Resistant Disease
  • Neoadjuvant Chemo Flops Versus Upfront Surgery for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
  • Novel Anti-HER2 Drugs 'Impressive' in Advanced Biliary Cancer
  • Chemo-Free Approach Works in Subset of Patients With HER2+ Early Breast Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • From medical student to intern: Discovering a deeper connection with patients

      Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the global pandemic threat: insights into risk factors and urgent measures for prevention

      Ton La, Jr., MD, JD | Policy
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Master time management with 7 productivity strategies for optimal results

      Farzana Hoque, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Challenging gender bias in the house of medicine
3 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...