Ivory tower in MD/PhD programmes: sticky floor, broken ladder and glass ceiling

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Gender Studies
• Academic Medicine

Background:

• Gender equity is vital for innovation and productivity in academic medicine.
• Understanding gender distribution in dual MD/PhD programs is essential for addressing disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the gender distribution of faculty members in North American MD/PhD programs.
• To quantify career success metrics and leadership roles by gender.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of academic metrics including professorial ranks, leadership positions, publications, H-index, and citations.
• Statistical analysis (Chi-squared test) to determine the significance of gender distribution differences.

Main Results:

• Significant gender disparities were found across all faculty ranks (p<0.0001).
• Men held a disproportionately higher percentage of full professor (74.2%), associate professor (64%), assistant professor (59.4%), and lecturer (62.8%) positions.
• Men also dominated leadership roles, including department chairs (79.6%), vice chairs (69.1%), and program leads (69.4%) (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• A prevalent gender disparity exists in North American MD/PhD programs, with women having lower professional standing.
• There is a clear need for initiatives to support women faculty for improved academic and professional advancement.