The gender gap in promotion in academic medicine has been well documented, which can ultimately lead to negative consequences not only for women faculty but for trainees and patients as well. Yale researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis that examined gender disparities in promotion to full professorship, in particular, considering factors such as scholarly production, grant funding, and leadership positions.
The meta-analysis found that consistent with previous findings, women were less likely to be promoted to full professorship, even when controlled for the major criteria that impact eligibility for promotion. This disparity was also found to be higher within surgical specialties, as well as in studies conducted outside of the United States. These results underscore the ongoing challenges faced by women in academic medicine and highlight the need for targeted interventions to address gender bias and promote equity in career advancement.
To learn more, read the study: “Gender Disparity in Full Professor Rank Among Academic Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.”
Marhoffer, E. A., Ein-Alshaeba, S., Grimshaw, A. A., Holleck, J. L., Rudikoff, B., Bastian, L. A., & Gunderson, C. G. (2024). Gender Disparity in Full Professor Rank Among Academic Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Academic Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000005695