This post was authored by LaVone Smith, MD, member of the WIC Section and a second year fellow in Cardiovascular Medicine at The University of Virginia Health System.

While women constitute almost half of graduating internal medicine residents and nearly 40 percent of first year fellows in medicine subspecialties, there remains a large gender gap in cardiovascular training programs, where women represent only 20 percent of fellows entering the specialty. 

One reason for this discrepancy could be a dramatic shift in the attitudes of trainees in my generation. Our generation places more emphasis on family life, and our identities are less defined by our career choices. When deciding on a subspecialty, residents observe that a cardiology fellowship will add an additional 3-5 years of training, and is very grueling with long work hours and frequent calls. Not surprisingly, residents view cardiology as a profession that is not lifestyle friendly. They often observe that even after fellowship, cardiologists continue to work long hours and seem to have little time for themselves or their families. Female residents who want to start a family or those who have young children at home feel the added pressure of the time constraints which characterize a rigorous fellowship. The time commitment it takes to build a successful career in cardiology usually comes at a price, and ultimately some women who are well suited for the field choose other subspecialties that allow for a more equal balance of personal and professional life.

Cardiology is exciting and rewarding, and I could not imagine doing anything different. I fortunately have benefitted by learning from many wonderful female mentors who are able to achieve a good work-family balance. As female cardiologists, it is important we show female residents it is possible to have a successful career in cardiology while maintaining a personal life outside of professional practice.  The increasing availability of jobs that encourage and support this type of practice should also help draw more women into cardiology.

For more information about the ACC’s Women in Cardiology Member Section, visit CardioSource.org/WIC.

< Back to Listings