Role models for women medical students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Women in Medicine
• Professional Identity Formation

Background:

• Career and family conflicts significantly influence women physicians' professional involvement.
• Understanding the evolving perspectives of women medical students is crucial for effective training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore women medical students' perceptions of women physicians as role models.
• To identify differences in views between early-stage and late-stage medical students.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 192 women medical students at a midwestern medical school.
• Student responses were analyzed based on their year of study (first/second vs. third/fourth).

Main Results:

• First- and second-year students expressed an identity crisis and a desire for female physician role models.
• Third- and fourth-year students prioritized physician competency over the instructor's gender, showing little interest in same-sex role models.

Conclusions:

• Early-stage medical students grapple with identity, seeking relatable role models.
• Later-stage students focus on clinical competence, viewing physician gender as secondary to professional skill.