Gender equity in medicine is a big topic these days, but the United States has long a way to go. We’ve collected some tweets to take a peek into the state of women in medicine right now.
2018 was the first year more women were admitted into U.S. medical schools than men, but as Dr. Julie Silver points out, the number of women in leadership positions is another matter entirely.
Our new study in @JAMAIntMed showed 10 med societies with 0yrs of 👩🏻⚕️presidential leadership over past decade. Some of them may 😯you like @AANMember @AADmember. Prior👉🏽we found #inexorablezero awards to👩🏻⚕️ #WomenInMedicine #HeForShehttps://t.co/mGDqkmILwbhttps://t.co/s2tgRbZVcj pic.twitter.com/xN2Q6tDpR1
— Julie Silver, MD (@JulieSilverMD) January 8, 2019
And yet, a historically male-dominated specialty will see female leadership very soon.
Orthopaedic remains the least diverse medical specialty. However, in just a few short weeks we welcome our first female president of @AAOS1. Thank you Dr. Weber for breaking the glass ceiling. #ladypods #womeninsurgery #ILookLikeASurgeon https://t.co/XV5HR8zr0Y
— Linda Suleiman, MD (@LindaSuleimanMD) January 11, 2019
And Yale’s first ever female chair or surgery shares her story with younger female physicians.
When Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA, arrived in New Haven, she was 1 of only 19 women chairs of surgery across the country—and the 1st at Yale Medicine. She sat down with us to explain her work as a surgeon and her new direction for the department. https://t.co/9FPi1cboc3 pic.twitter.com/afI3g8x2VD
— Yale Medicine (@YaleMedicine) January 15, 2019
While some women in medicine continue to face discrimination and have to defend their credentials…
Better choice to help someone with deformed broken bone after fall at a roller rink? Can’t make this stuff up? #ILookLikeASurgeon #facesoforthopaedics @WomenSurgeons @womeninsurgery #nogooddeedgoesunpinished
— Jennifer Weiss (@mymomthesurgeon) January 13, 2019
...there is hope that the next wave of female physicians is inspired, as evidenced by this eight-year-old's homework.
8 year old daughter's schoolwork - check out Q1 #looklikeasurgeon #mummyisasurgeon (and so is daddy!) pic.twitter.com/4vxk5wsqGJ
— Robert Sutcliffe (@liveRPancSurg) October 11, 2017
And in a profession where scrubs were not designed for pregnant women, it’s inspiring to see women staying crafty.
Belly band works pretty well. Using a Kelly clamp to attach pants to top works great, in a pinch— but don’t forget to include it in the count... and don’t sit down!
— Jennifer Davids, MD (@jennifersdavids) January 12, 2019
And last but not least, to see women leaders in medicine continuing to speak up against the issues that really matter leading to a better experience for those that come after them.
The culture of harassment in medical schools needs to end. This is our house, and we are responsible for cleaning it up & making it a better place for patient care https://t.co/V9lwth9wwW @TIMESUPNOW @LFiellin @reshmajagsi @TheAtlantic
— Esther Choo MD MPH (@choo_ek) January 15, 2019
Illustration by Jennifer Bogartz
