• Female-to-Female Mentorship Aims to Reduce Gender Gaps in Scholarly Authorship and Senior Faculty Appointments in Family Medicine

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Februay 11, 2021

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    Female-to-Female Mentorship Aims to Reduce Gender Gaps in Scholarly Authorship and Senior Faculty Appointments in Family Medicine

    WASHINGTON, DC — The United States has witnessed great progress in gender advancement in academic medicine over the years, with females now making up 52 percent of medical school enrollment, compared to just 5.5 percent in 1950. However, gender disparities persist. Women remain underrepresented as authors in academic medical research and in leadership roles.

    New research by the Robert Graham Center, entitled “Gender Concordance of First and Senior Authors in Family Medicine Journals,” was published in the February 2021 issue Family Medicine, the official journal of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. The study examined whether female senior authors of research papers are more likely to publish with “female first” authors (i.e., the first author listed being female) in family medicine journals.

    The authors explain, “In academic medicine, the last listed author is usually reserved for the most senior person on the project. Further, it is typical for the most senior person on the team to act as a mentor to the team, including to the first author. Mentorship is often helpful in ensuring more junior researchers have a productive career.”

    Findings from this study show that, from 2008 to 2017, among authors of original research published in major academic family medicine journals, “female last” authors (i.e. the last author listed being female and who typically serves as mentor) were more likely than male last authors to have published an article with a female first author. This suggests there may be a linkage between female-to-female mentorships and research published by female first authors.

    Many past studies have observed disparities between men and women publishing in peer-reviewed scientific literature across academic medicine. While female authorship in three major family medicine journals has increased in the last decade, there is still a gender gap in senior authorship.

    “This is noteworthy because research and authorship are key components of faculty appointment and promotion,” said lead author, Mieses Malchuk, MD, MPH. “This includes publication in peer-reviewed journals, where being listed as the lead author is given significant weight.”

    The researchers also examined the current state of female representation in family medicine faculty positions. The number of women in full professorship in family medicine has climbed steadily over time but has not yet reached 50 percent. Less than 40 percent of family medicine professors are women, and fewer than half of the first and last authors in major family medicine journals are women. Female leaders who serve as mentors and role models to other women is especially important for the advancement of women in academic medicine.

    “Mentorship of female researchers in academia is imperative, as it has been shown to result in higher satisfaction and retention of women in academic medicine,” Mieses Malchuk said. “Academic institutions and researchers should be mindful of this, as we need more women in academic medicine working to their fullest potential and contributing to the health of our country.”

     

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    About the Robert Graham Center

    The Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care works to improve individual and population health by enhancing the delivery of primary care. The Center staff generates and analyzes evidence that brings a family medicine and primary care perspective to health policy deliberations at local, state, and national levels.

    Founded in 1999, the Robert Graham Center is an independent research unit affiliated with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The information and opinions contained in research from the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the AAFP.