Characteristics of women radiologists in the United States

Although women radiologists are increasingly prevalent, ways in which they differ from other women physicians are poorly described. We compared women radiologists with women physicians in general to see if and how they differed in personal and professional traits.

We analyzed data from the Women Physicians' Health Study, a nationally representative random sample (n = 4501 respondents) of personal and professional characteristics of women physicians in the United States.

Radiologists (n = 163; 3.3% [weighted] of respondents) were more likely than were other women physicians to be conservative but were similar to other physicians in age, ethnicity, marital status, and personal health habits. Women radiologists were more likely to be board-certified and hospital-based, were not avid prevention counselors, and worked more hours than did other women physicians. Women radiologists had far higher incomes than other women physicians, but had less career satisfaction and less work control, and were more likely to feel overworked. Radiologists were also more likely than other physicians to report gender-based harassment while in medical school and postgraduate training, and more likely to report sexual harassment while in practice.

Women radiologists are similar to other women physicians in some personal and professional characteristics but differ in some important and disturbing ways regarding professional experiences and satisfaction.