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Amanda Jekowsky , American College of
Cardiology, 202-375-6645, ajekowsk@acc.org
December
15, 2008
Number of female cardiologists nearly
doubles, but under-representation and discrimination remain
Ten-year survey reveals progress and challenges
amid increasing demand for cardiac care
The number of female doctors in cardiology nearly
doubled in the last decade, and male and female cardiologists
both report a high level of job satisfaction, according to
findings from a 10-year follow-up survey published in the
December 16/23, 2008, issue of the Journal of the American
College of Cardiology.
Still, women account for less than 20 percent
of all cardiologists, despite nearly equal numbers of men
and women graduating from medical schools. Moreover, two-thirds
of women continue to report discrimination, mostly due to
competing demands of parenting and family responsibilities.
“Women in cardiology continue to face
the same institutional and personal roadblocks as those in
other areas of medicine and science,” says Athena Poppas,
M.D., F.A.C.C., associate professor of medicine, Warren Alpert
Medical School of Brown University, RI. “Women don’t
choose to specialize as much as their male counterparts for
a variety of reasons, including the intensity and length of
training—at least six years for cardiology—during
peak childbearing years.”
As more and more Americans live with chronic
heart conditions, the need to ensure a stable and competent
cardiology workforce, including the recruitment of women,
has become increasingly urgent.
“One-third of Americans will have cardiovascular disease,
so we must attract the best and the brightest—and that
includes women—to keep up with demand and provide the
highest level of patient care and research to help advance
the field,” says Dr. Poppas, who also serves as chair
of the American College of Cardiology’s Women in Cardiology
Council, which commissioned the study. “We need to find
ways to reduce discrimination, establish greater flexibility
in work hours, and expand opportunities for mentorship to
better meet the needs of women and men as they plan their
careers in cardiology.”
The need for greater flexibility is no longer gender-specific;
both male and female doctors are striving for a better work-life
balance. In fact, a similar proportion of male and female
cardiologists are working less than full-time (80% vs 82%).
This coincides with an overall trend toward more lifestyle-friendly
areas of medicine, such as emergency departments, anesthesiology
and radiology, which give doctors more control over their
hours.
“The perception is that cardiology is more demanding,
and the hours less easy to control than other areas of medicine.
Cardiology involves life-threatening emergencies, so you’re
not always sure you’ll be home for dinner or make it
to the school play,” she says. “But it’s
incredibly rewarding and it shows. Cardiologists of both genders
love what they do—nine out of 10 say they are moderately
to highly satisfied.”
According to the survey, women are also less likely than
men to pursue interventional cardiology due, in part, to concerns
about radiation exposure and pregnancy risks. One in four
women reported selecting tracks to reduce their radiation
risk. Female cardiologists are also more likely to have interruptions
in their training or practice and, similar to other demanding
professions such as law and business, they are much less likely
to be married or have children than their male colleagues.
The current survey of 1,110 participants, a follow up to
the 1996 survey, aims to better understand the career and
lifestyle needs of male and female cardiologists.
This study is part of larger efforts by the American College
of Cardiology (ACC) to take a critical look at why women remain
under-represented in cardiology, and play a leadership role
in helping to attract and retain young female medical students
to the field through training, leadership and professional
development.
“We’re making progress, but we still have a long
way to go to provide better opportunities and support for
women cardiologists, and to be able to recruit more to the
field,” said W. Douglas Weaver, M.D., ACC’s president.
“The College is committed to spearheading efforts to
find creative solutions to meet the needs of our female colleges.”
Dr. Poppas reports no conflicts of interest.
For a copy of the full survey, please contact the ACC Press
Office.
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The American College of Cardiology is leading the way to optimal
cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College is
a 36,000-member nonprofit medical society and bestows the
credential Fellow of the American College of Cardiology upon
physicians who meet its stringent qualifications. The College
is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards
and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular
research. The ACC provides professional education and operates
national registries for the measurement and improvement of
quality care. More information about the association is available
online at www.acc.org .
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) provides these news
reports of clinical studies published in the Journal of
the American College of Cardiology as a service to physicians,
the media, the public and other interested parties. However,
statements or opinions expressed in these reports reflect
the view of the author(s) and do not represent official policy
of the ACC unless stated so.
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