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Gender inequality in leadership and academic rank in academic reproductive endocrinology programs

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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Abstract

Purpose

To identify gender differences in leadership and academic rank within academic reproductive endocrinology (REI) programs with fellowships in the USA.

Methods

Official institutional websites of the 2017–2018 American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG)-accredited reproductive endocrinology fellowship programs were reviewed, and gender representation at each leadership position and academic rank (Division and Fellowship Director and Full, Associate, and Assistant Professor) was recorded. Univariate comparisons were performed using Chi-square tests, with significance at p < 0.05.

Results

Among 49 ABOG-accredited reproductive endocrinology programs, 263 faculty were identified, 129 (49.0%) male and 134 (51.0%) female. Division directors were 69.3% male and 30.7% female (p = 0.006). Similarly, fellowship directors were 65.3% male and 34.6% female (p = 0.03). Full professors (n = 101) were more frequently male (70.3% vs. 29.7%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in gender among associate professors (n = 60, 51.7% male vs. 48.3% female, p = 0.79), while significantly more assistant professors were female than male (n = 102, 73.6% vs. 26.4%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

While a majority of residents in obstetrics and gynecology and half of reproductive endocrinology academic faculty are female, women are still underrepresented among leadership positions and full professors in academic reproductive endocrinology programs with fellowship programs.

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Availability of data and material

The data generated and/or reviewed during the above publication are not publicly available but available from the corresponding author by reasonable request.

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Correspondence to Jessica H. Selter.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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As this was an observational study based on publicly available data, Institutional Review Board approval was not required.

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As this was an observational study based on publicly available data, consent to participate was not required.

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Selter, J.H., Spurlin, E.E. & Brady, P.C. Gender inequality in leadership and academic rank in academic reproductive endocrinology programs. J Assist Reprod Genet 37, 1959–1962 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01866-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01866-8

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