New research published in Clinical Imaging finds a male majority in the academic musculoskeletal (MSK) radiology workforce, but female representation in the field is similar to or higher than national rates.
“We have demonstrated that in the subspecialty of MSK radiology the proportion of female faculty in the specialty is not only comparable to that of diagnostic radiology but even performs slightly better at the higher academic levels such as associate and full professor level,” study co-authors Kate Ann Harrington, MD, and Gregory Chang, MD, of NYU Langone Health in New York. “The fact remains however, that a gender imbalance persists across all levels of academic radiology. This imbalance is also reflected in women in leadership roles, with only a minority in lead roles such as chair, director or chief.”
In 2015, 37 percent of radiology instructors overall were women. But female academic appointments decreased as rank progressed from assistant professor to associate professor to full professor. Specifically, 32 percent of assistant professors, 30 percent of associate professors and 21 percent of full professors were women.
Harrington and Chang sought to determine how the proportion of women in academic MSK radiology compares to all academic fields. They assessed faculty information for 25 top-ranked MSK radiology divisions and benchmark data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. They found:
- 33 percent of MSK-trained full-time faculty were female, compared to 30 percent in diagnostic radiology and 38 percent in academic medicine.
- 35 percent of MSK-trained assistant professors were female, compared to 37 percent in diagnostic radiology and 43 percent in academic medicine.
- 34 percent of MSK-trained associate professors were female, compared to 32 percent in diagnostic radiology and 33 percent in academic medicine.
- 23 percent of MSK-trained professors were female, compared to 21 percent in diagnostic radiology and 20 percent in academic medicine.
- Only six MSK radiologists held either a chair or vice-chair role in their radiology departments, three of whom were female. Of the 24 chief of director roles identified, 30 percent were held by women. Only 25 percent of the fellowship or residency director roles were filled by women.
The authors noted contributing factors to the gender disparity such as lack of female mentorship, less published work and embedded institutional barriers.
Harrington and Chang noted the field must acknowledge the disparity before planning and implementing interventions. Recruitment of more female radiologists at the medical school level is also key.
“Without specific interventions, the low numbers of women entering radiology will perpetuate the lack of female role models in the specialty, discouraging young doctors from entering radiology and continue the cycle of the long-standing gender gap,” the authors wrote.
As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.