Gender-Specific Factors Influencing Medical Students' Career Choice of IR

Abstract

The authors conducted an anonymous survey to assess positive and negative factors that may affect medical students' decisions to pursue a career in interventional radiology (IR). The survey was sent to registrants for the Midwest IR Student Symposium in 2016 and/ or 2017, with a response rate of 13%; male and female responses were then compared. Female and male medical students shared similar rankings of factors affecting their decisions about choosing IR as a career, such as concern about lifestyle and excitement about therapeutic applications. Access to female IR mentors and diversification of the currently male-dominated workplace were important, gender-specific concerns.

Addressing Barriers to Entry and Retention of Women in Interventional Vascular Specialties With Proposed Solutions: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

“…16 Surveyed female medical students expressed concerns about entering historically male-dominated fields such as interventional radiology given the relative lack of female mentors. 17 Ultimately, in gender-imbalanced specialties, improved representation at the attending level may be necessary to ultimately achieve greater gender parity among trainees, but despite this, women trainees have been successfully mentored by men for years. In an analysis of junior faculty in academic promotion tracks, gender concordance between mentee and mentor did not affect satisfaction with mentorship.…”

A Review of Healthcare Disparities Relevant to Interventional Radiology

“…A relative abundance of male IR physicians taking on more visible roles, as consultants, speakers, and potential mentors, may exacerbate the existing gender gap, further reducing the likelihood of women choosing this field. 11 In terms of race and ethnicity, Black (2%) and Hispanic (6.2%) physicians remain strongly underrepresented within the IR workforce and training pathways. The representation of different racial and ethnic minorities in IR has subtly and incrementally increased over the past two decades and in absolute terms, the percentage of all minority groups (Black, Hispanic, and combined American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) remains low.…”

“…A relative abundance of male IR physicians taking on more visible roles, as consultants, speakers, and potential mentors, may exacerbate the existing gender gap, further reducing the likelihood of women choosing this field. 11…”

Workforce Diversity of Interventional Radiology Physicians in North America: Reflections on the U.S. Experience

“…In another survey amongst female trainees who intended to pursue IR, motivating factors included becoming a mentor as well as the intellectual rigor associated with the field. 59,60 Despite these motivators, there were also concerns raised relating to matters of physical health, pay equity, gender-based biases, and effectively managing their career.…”

“…Different studies also agree that the lack of access to female IR mentors and formal mentorship programs at the key decision-making crossroads where applicants must navigate and select their career specialty in medical school have deterred and limited specialization in IR. 59,60 In fact, the presence of female mentors has effectively served to dispel misconceptions and concerns shared by trainees. In assessing the forms of mentorship received by potential IR trainees, Hoffman et al in 2020 touted that despite the efforts of many IR program directors (PDs) to personally fulfill mentorship roles, many programs typically lack formal mentorship programs and do not receive adequate departmental financial support or time for effective implementation.…”