AMA Wire

Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012

News for Women Physicians

Women underrepresented among medical school deans, study finds

Women underrepresented among medical school deans, study finds

Despite a steady increase in the number of female medical school deans, women are still underrepresented in this position, according to a new study in the journal Academic Medicine.

The study found that women represented only 15 percent of new deans appointed in 2000 through 2006. In addition, female deans take longer to advance through the ranks, serve at less research-intensive institutions and have shorter tenures—only three years as opposed to 5.4 years for men.

Another study, published in the Archives of Dermatology, found gender-based differences in academic dermatology, including career track, academic rank distribution, leadership and career satisfaction. A related editorial makes the point that dermatology should be at the "vanguard" in promoting female physicians into leadership roles, since it is one of three specialties with the highest proportion of female trainees (close to 70 percent).

The AMA Women Physicians Congress aims to increase the number and influence of women physicians in leadership roles by monitoring these and similar trends, and by addressing emerging professional issues affecting women in the profession.

CME activity offers tips on diagnosing eating disorders

A training module from the AMA helps primary care physicians understand how to identify eating disorders and help patients who have them get the treatment they need. The module features leading physician specialists explaining some of the key symptoms of eating disorders, common misconceptions, timely interventions and effective care management.

Physicians can earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for participating in this continuing medical education (CME) activity.

Apply for board, review committee appointments

AMA members interested in being part of either the American Board of Emergency Medicine or the Residency Review Committee for Medical Genetics are invited to apply today. Interested candidates must submit their nomination materials to the AMA Council on Medical Education by Sept. 15. Learn more by visiting the Council on Medical Education Web page.