Promotion and retention of women physicians in academia

Although an increasing number of women are entering academia, they are poorly represented in positions of high rank. Several studies have shown women are less likely to be promoted than men. This difference is primarily observed among faculty with children. Compared to male physicians, female physicians with children spend fewer hours in their academic job because they have made the choice to spend more time with their children. This choice affects their academic productivity which is likely one of the main reasons for the promotion differential. Academic centers tend not to accommodate physicians with children as evidenced by workweek time expectations for promotion, meetings held after-hours, and the lack of supportive services on site. In addition to instituting programs to support and promote women, other strategies for academic centers to retain this population include viewing a slower promotion schedule for those with children favorably and changing to a "family-friendly" environment.