Gender Distribution in Pediatric Hospital Medicine Leadership

Journal of Hospital Medicine 16(1). 2021 January;:J. Hosp. Med. 2021 January;16(1):31-33. Published Online First December 23, 2020. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3555 | DOI: 10.12788/jhm.3555

December 23, 2020|Journal of Hospital Medicine

Jessica M Allan, MD;Juliann L Kim, MD;Shawn L Ralston, MD, MS;Nicole M Paradise Black, MD, MEd;Rebecca Blankenburg, MD, MPH;Erin E Shaughnessy, MD, MSHCM;H Barrett Fromme, MD, MHPE

Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM), a field early in its development and with a robust pipeline of women, is in a unique position to lead the way in gender equity. We describe the proportion of women in divisional and fellowship leadership positions at university-based PHM programs (n = 142). When compared with the PHM field at large, women appear to be underrepresented as PHM division/program leaders (70% vs 55%; P < .001) but not as fellowship directors (70% vs 66%; P > .05). Women appear proportionally represented in associate/assistant leadership roles when compared with the distribution of the PHM field at large. Tracking these trends over time is essential to advancing the field.

CONCLUSION

As a specialty early in development with a robust pipeline of women, PHM is in a unique position to lead the way in gender equity. However, women appear to be underrepresented as division directors at university-based PHM programs. Achieving proportional representation of women leaders is imperative for tapping into the full potential of the community and ensuring that the goals of the field are representative of the population.

Acknowledgment

Special thanks to Lucille Lester, MD, who asked the question that started this road to discovery.

References

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