Gender Distribution in Paediatric Cardiology Training Programs in Canada.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Cardiology
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Despite female medical students forming the majority, some specialties like adult cardiology retain a male trainee prevalence.
• This study investigates gender distribution in Canadian pediatric cardiology training programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine gender distribution within Canadian pediatric cardiology training programs.
• To identify factors contributing to gender disparities in this subspecialty.

Main Methods:

• Data on successful matches to pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology programs were sourced from the Canadian Resident Matching Service.
• Statistical analysis was conducted to assess the significance of the association between gender and program entry.

Main Results:

• Between 2016-2024, only 12% of matched pediatric cardiology trainees were female, compared to 88% male.
• A statistically significant gender difference exists between pediatric residents (78% female) and pediatric cardiology trainees (P < 0.0001).
• No significant association was found between applicant gender and successful admission to pediatric cardiology programs (P < 0.23).

Conclusions:

• A notable gender discrepancy persists in Canadian pediatric cardiology training, with male trainees predominating.
• Under-representation of females appears linked to a lower number of female applicants.
• Limited by sample size, no clear bias was observed in applicant gender versus admission success.