Career Advice for Women in Medicine [Guide]

Women Run the World in Medicine

The number of women in medicine is astounding. Around the world, women make up 70% of the global healthcare workforce. In developing countries, more than 50% of women held jobs with healthcare titles, according to the OECD, an international nonprofit that works to improve the quality of life of humans around the globe.

While there are no signs pointing toward anything except job security for those who choose professions in healthcare, there are various challenges and barriers women in medicine face and overcome in order to succeed when compared to their male counterparts.
The OECD said only four countries neared gender parity in healthcare, or an equal population of women and men. They were Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Additionally, 13 countries exceeded general parity for doctors, which included Slovenia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.

Meanwhile, the United States, Europe, and the Western Pacific had the highest proportion of women in medicine-related-fields, including nurses. In Japan, women make up 1 of 5 doctors. For nurses and midwives, women represent a global majority.

Women Dominate the U.S. Healthcare Industry

Women hold over 75% of health care jobs in the United States, the OECD said. The percentage is attributed to the fact that women, especially those of color, are more likely to take on caregiving roles as a healthcare career choice. Since 2019, more women are entering medical school than men. In that year, women accounted for over 50% of medical school applications, matriculants, and enrolled students. In 2018, they also made up nearly 50% of medical school graduates. Of medical school faculty, women comprised just over 42% of them in 2019.

In Canada, women dominate the healthcare field by making up about 80% of post-secondary graduates. For over 40 years, women continue to hold a greater share of medical degrees than men. In 2018, women earned about 55% of medical degrees, an increase of 12%. This trend applies for nursing roles, where women comprise over 90% of the nurse workforce. By 2030, this growth is expected to increase by at least 33%, the OECD said.

When compared to Europe, the gender gap between women and men in medicine widely varies by country. For example, at face value, the European Union indicates a near equal balance of men and women employed in healthcare. However, women remain the driving force in Latvia and Estonia. Meanwhile, men outnumber women in medicine in Luxembourg and Cyprus.

Healthcare Career Higher Education Requirements

Healthcare Job Title

Required Years of Higher Education

Hemodialysis technician
Phlebotomy technician
Pharmacy technician
Medical massage therapist
Emergency medicine paramedic
Histology technician
Neurodiagnostic technologist
Surgical technologist
Cardiovascular invasive specialist
Central service technician
Nurse
Health information manager
Medical laboratory scientist
Nuclear medicine technologist
Positron emission tomography technologist
Radiation therapist
Radiologic technologist
Recreational therapist
Respiratory therapist
Cardiac sonographer
Surgical first assistant
Diagnostic medical sonographer
Dietitian
Cytogenetic technologist
Cytotechnologist
Athletic trainer
Cardiovascular perfusionist
Child life specialist
Hospital chaplain
Medical social worker
Molecular genetics technologist
Perioperative nurse
Orthoptist
Genetic counselor
Physician assistant
Medical physicist
Medical speech-language pathologist
Nurse anesthetist
Nurse midwife
Nurse practitioner
Occupational therapist
Pathologists’ assistant
Pharmacist
Physical therapist
Audiologist

Less than 1 year
Less than 1 year
0-2 years
1 year
1-2 years
1-2 years
1-2 years
1-2 years
1-3 years
1-4 years
1-8 years
2-4 years
2-4 years
2-4 years
2-4 years
2-4 years
2-4 years
2-4 years
2-4 years
2-6 years
2-6 years
2-6 years
4 years
4-5 years
4-5 years
4-6 years
4-6 years
4-6 years
4-6 years
4-6 years
4-6 years
4-6 years
4-6 years
6 years
6-7 years
6-8 years
6-8 years
6-8 years
6-8 years
6-8 years
6-8 years
6-8 years
6-8 years
6-8 years
8 years

Source: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Women in Medicine by Position

Health Care Field

# of Women Employed

Total Employed

% of Women Employed

Child Day Care Services
Community Food and Housing, and Emergency Services
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, and Specialty Hospitals*
Health Care and Social Assistance
Home Health Care Services
Hospitals
Individual and Family Services
Non-Hospital Health Services
Office of Chiropractors
Office of Dentists
Office of Optometrists
Office of Other Health Practitioners
Office of Physicians
Other Health Care Services
Outpatient Care Centers
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals
Residential Care Facilities**
Skilled Nursing Care Facilities
Social Assistance
Vocational Rehabilitation Services

1,251,000
114,000

5,453,500

16,446,000
1,247,000
5,521,000
1,226,000
8,283,000
91,000
805,000
115,000
274,000
1,182,000
1,178,000
1,617,000
67,000
675,000
1,100,000
2,642,000
52,000

1,314,000
157,000

7,274,000

21,204,000
1,450,000
7,364,000
1,586,000
10,696,000
142,000
974,000
152,000
345,000
1,579,000
1,719,999
2,071,000
90,000
911,000
1,352,000
3,144,000
87,000

95%
73%

75%

78%
86%
75%
77%
77%
64%
83%
76%
79%
75%
69%
78%
75%
74%
81%
84%
60%

**Not Skilled Nursing Facilities
*Not Psychiatric and Substance Abuse
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

U.S. Average Salary for Healthcare Jobs

Job Title

Average Salary

Sonographer
Domestic Violence Advocate
Obstetrics and Gynecology Physician
Mammography Technologist
Doula
Lactation Consultant
Maternity Nurse
Surgical Technician
Women’s Health Manager
Nurse
Midwife
Labor and Delivery Nurse
Primary Care Physician
OB-GYN Nurse
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Infertility Specialist
Psychiatrist
Family Medicine Physician
Internal Medicine Physician
Urgent Care Physician

$26,541
$41,582
$48,153
$51,400
$64,826
$63,368
$68,658
$70,618
$76,927
$78,846
$95,097
$116,279
$134,102
$139,826
$141,291
$176,717
$240,166
$281,704
$282,905
$287,924

Source: Indeed.com

How to Find Mentorship and Support for Women in Medicine

Some medical schools and employers will host a Women in Medicine (WIM) mentoring night. The gathering serves as a function for women to find a mentor in their specific field, according to MDLinx writer Jules Murtha. In some situations, female mentors will amplify the voice of their female mentees to ensure their voices are heard. There also are forums specifically for women in medicine to discuss topics that directly affect them. For Black people looking for

mentors of color, the Association of Black Women Physicians provides programs to help counteract obstacles Black women face in growing their medical careers.

Here are some resources on finding mentorship in healthcare:

The Importance of Women Supporting Women in Medicine

Association of Black Women Physicians

Mentoring in Medicine

Association of American Medical Colleges – Mentoring

Why Do Some Women Leave Medicine Early?

In 2019, research showed nearly 40% of women in medicine either went part-time with their careers or left medicine entirely within six years of completing their residencies, according to an article from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Here is a look into why this happens and what the healthcare industry is doing to prevent it. Generally, reports point to sex-based harassment, pay gap, and gender bias as the primary limiting factors for women in medicine. However, a work-family conflict early in a woman physician’s career may play a deciding-factor in change.

Full-time vs. Part-time

Of total physicians, 22.6% of female physicians were not working full-time compared to 3.6% of men in similar roles, according to a 2018 survey of 700,000 physicians conducted by Merrit Hawkins, a Dallas, Texas-based healthcare research firm.

Additionally, data indicates household tasks have a greater impact on women in healthcare than men. On average, women do 8.5 hours more of housework than men. Married men, who have children, worked seven hours longer and spent 12 hours less per week on parenting or other domestic responsibilities than women.

Pregnancy

For female physicians with children, 1 in 3 have experienced discrimination in the workplace due to pregnancy or breastfeeding. In medicine, maternity leave policies can be lacking. The recommended leave is 12 weeks for both parents, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, the average length of parental leave was 8.6 weeks, according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Time Off/Leave of Absence

Lastly, it may be difficult for women to reenter the medical field after changing to part-time hours or leaving the career for an extended period of time. Taking time off to raise children typically comes at a cost. Even though not practicing, physicians who take a break are recommended to make sure they keep their license current. And while it may vary by state law, all physicians who return to work after 24 months are required to demonstrate competency in their skills.

This can be followed with a monitoring period to ensure you still deliver the highest quality of care. In some cases, you may have to repeat a portion of your residency training.

Medical institutions are currently exploring ways to improve their systems for parental leave, so they can provide support to women without constructing tall barriers for reentry. At Harvard Medical School, they offer monetary compensation to eligible physicians, which can be used for childcare, so women can spend time on research and professional development.

How to Balance a Career in Medicine and Family

Bonnie Davis, a family practice physician, said it’s important to leave work at work, according to an article in CompHealth. She added that communication is absolutely essential to maintaining a healthy relationship between her husband and children. She continued that leaving paperwork and other work distractions at the office make it easier to focus on family.

Lexi Mitchell-Sanchez, a physician and emergency on-call nurse, decided to work a 8-5 schedule as part of her contract to allow her to spend time with her family. She said she planned ahead of time to prioritize a balance between work and home.

For Tamara Howard, an emergency medicine physician, she was able to find balance in homeschooling her child while practicing medicine. This allowed her the flexibility to work in healthcare and also provide for her child in situations where she otherwise could not.

Balancing a career in medicine and family can also mean letting go of guilt. Holly Williams, a doctor, said she tracks important events and activities on a calendar, so she and her family can prioritize important things when she’s less busy at work.

Lastly, determine whether a locum doctor, also known as locum tenen, can fulfill your duties in times you need to spend more hours with family. A locum doctor will act in your place until your return. This is especially helpful for extended absences, such as maternity leave, caring for an elderly family member, and other situations.

Here are some resources on balancing a career in healthcare and family:

Motherhood and Medicine: Physician Mothers Share Their Tips for Balancing Kids and Career

How to Achieve a Healthy Work-Life Balance in Healthcare

Achieving Work-Life Balance in Healthcare: An Online Guide for Students & Professionals

Five Ways Healthcare Workers Can Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Hiring a Locum Tenens for Your Practice: What You Need to Know

Statistically Women in Medicine Are More Likely to Get Sick

Since women comprise a majority of the international health care workforce, they face a disproportionate risk of contracting illnesses including COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

In April 2020, the CDC reported that 73% of health care professionals who tested positive for COVID-19 were women. A study of health care professionals in China reported that women had increased anxiety, stress, and depression during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Here are some resources on how to stay healthy in the medical and healthcare field:

7 Tips For Healthcare Professionals Looking to Maintain Healthy Eating Habits

Staying Healthy While Working in a Hospital Setting

Top 10 Caregiver Tips for Maintaining Health and Well-Being

Staying Healthy as a Nurse

How Doctors Stay Healthy Year-Round and How You Can Too

Other Challenges in the Medical Field

According to a study published in the Future Healthcare Journal, women reported significant challenges in various parts of their medicine careers. This was made more difficult by limited flexible working options. Additionally, few of the women felt they had received adequate support, professional advice, and/or mentoring during their career progression.

The study, authored by Stephanie Moore, Jenna Fielding, and Claire MacDermott, recommended the following to reduce challenges and other obstacles:

• More mentoring and positive role models
• Responsiveness and flexibility for employment
• More educational opportunities

Own-Occupation Disability Insurance

Healthcare professionals can consider own-occupation disability insurance to provide a source
of income in the event they are not physically able to perform the duties of their everyday jobs. If a professional in medicine or healthcare was to get into a serious car accident and not be able to work for an extended period of time, own-occupation disability insurance can provide the needed income to cover expenses during an extended recovery.

When's the best time to buy disability insurance?

The best time to buy disability insurance is when a person is young and healthy. The price
increases every year a person waits to buy it and any pre-existing medical conditions can make
obtaining disability insurance more challenging. It is better sooner than later.

What about Group Insurance?

An alternative to individual disability insurance is employer provided group disability insurance.
While Group Insurance offers a great first layer of income protection, it has several limitations.

1. Most group plans state that they will provide 60% of a person’s income during a
disability, but the actual payout is typically much lower due to offsets and taxes. This
could leave a person in a situation where they are not able to cover all of their expenses.

2. Group Insurance is connected to a person’s employer. If they were to change jobs, they
will lose their coverage.

3. The definition of disability and other policy provisions are always inferior to a more
comprehensive individual disability plan. There are many situations where an individual
policy would pay a benefit, where a group disability policy would not.

Because of these limitations, it’s fairly common for a person with group disability insurance to
supplement their policy with an individual disability policy to fill in the gaps.