May 2012
This Month's News
Different MCAT, different physician? New med school admissions test to debut in 2015
"Third-year theory": Making rotations patient-centered and restoring empathy
IOM: Primary care docs, public health pros should unite to improve health
Women entering med school declining since peak enrollment in 2003
Top Stories
Women entering med school declining since peak enrollment in 2003
The number and proportion of female applicants to U.S. medical schools increased from less than 25 percent in the mid-1970s to just over 50 percent in the early 2000s. Since its peak of 50.8 percent in 2003, however, the percentage of females applying to medical school has declined, according to new data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
This decline, to 47.3 percent in 2011, has significant implications for both educational diversity and the physician workforce. More research is needed to investigate which factors in both the medical school and health care practice settings may be contributing to this trend. In addition, research should "identify medical school programs that have maintained strong female participation to identify promising practices," the report concludes.
The AMA has long-standing policy in support of women physicians and women's health issues. In addition, its Women Physicians Congress provides a forum for networking, mentoring, advocacy and leadership development for women physicians and medical students as well as monitoring trends on emerging professional issues that affect women in the profession of medicine.
