[Career support systems for female physicians in Tokyo Women's Medical University]

Tokyo Women's University has career support systems for a female physician. Basic career support is provided for a young female physician who has children. Our University runs the nursery school which takes care of children in day and night. It also helps mothers (female physician) when children are sick. The university also provides short time office hours system for doctors who take care of their children. Both men and women can take advantage of the system. These systems can assist for female physicians to keep their position in hospitals and universities. Then, the next step of a career support is a project for higher-ranking position. Publishing scientific papers and developing good reputation as excellent physicians are essential for promotion. How can we support female physicians for promotion? Our university establishes a scientific research grant and a one-year scholarship for female physicians. We just start the support, therefore, we expect out come in future. We have been developing support systems for female physicians, however effects have not been sufficient yet. We should take more active action to promote female physicians in our society.