Women in Academic Pathology: Pathways to Department Chair

Abstract

The Association of Pathology Chairs, an organization of American and Canadian academic pathology departments, has a record percent of women department chairs in its ranks (31%), although still not representative of the percent of women pathology faculty (43%). These women chairs were surveyed to determine what had impeded and what had facilitated their academic advancement before becoming chairs. The 2 most frequently identified impediments to their career advancement were heavy clinical loads and the lack of time, training, and/or funding to pursue research. Related to the second impediment, only one respondent became chair of a department which was in a top 25 National Institutes of Health–sponsored research medical school. Eighty-nine percent of respondents said that they had experienced gender bias during their careers in pathology, and 31% identified gender bias as an important impediment to advancement. The top facilitator of career advancement before becoming chairs was a supportive family. Strikingly, 98% of respondents have a spouse or partner, 75% have children, and 38% had children younger than 18 when becoming chairs. Additional top facilitators were opportunities to attend national meetings and opportunities to participate in leadership. Previous leadership experiences included directing a clinical service, a residency training program, and/or a medical student education program. These results suggest important ways to increase the success of women in academic pathology and increasing the percent of women department chairs, including supporting a family life and providing time, encouragement and resources for research, attending national meetings, and taking on departmental leadership positions.

Gender differences in appointments to pathology department interim chair positions and subsequent advancement to permanent chair positions

“…Prior leadership experience was considered important in the career success of both interim and permanent female chairs of pathology. 2 Academic pathology departments typically offer many opportunities for leadership, and deans are likely to choose from among faculty members with leadership experience to serve as the interim chair. Although serving as an interim chair can have a negative impact on one's career, it can also be beneficial, including providing the added leadership experience needed for success in becoming a permanent chair.…”

“…In a previous publication about female chairs of pathology, we reported that females made up 31% of the total 166 Association of Pathology Chairs (APC) department chairs, although at that time females constituted 43% of faculty in academic departments of pathology. 2 In a survey of these female chairs administered in September 2020 to determine what facilitated or hampered their career advancement, we reported that previous leadership roles were important. 2 We also reported that of 18 interim chairs at that time, 65% were females.…”

“… 2 In a survey of these female chairs administered in September 2020 to determine what facilitated or hampered their career advancement, we reported that previous leadership roles were important. 2 We also reported that of 18 interim chairs at that time, 65% were females. Furthermore, 35% of responding permanent female chairs had been interim chairs at their institutions before becoming the permanent chair.…”

Women representation in dermatology residency program leadership: A cross-sectional study

“…This disparity is reflective of the general trend in surgery and pathology leadership nationally. 3,4 Furthermore, utilizing data from 2012 to 2014, Qiu et al 5 showed that diversity in academic dermatology faculty decreases significantly with increasing faculty rank. Our data mirror this sentiment by demonstrating a majority of women in assistant and associate PD positions, with a minority of women chairs.…”

The phenotype of academic pathology chairs

“…1 As noted by Lipscomb et al., 2020 data from the Association of Pathology Chairs (APC) demonstrate 31% women chairs within member departments, with the difference from AAMC data being explained by an additional 32 academic “affiliate” members (departments not in a medical school but that have pathology graduate medical education programs). 2 APC is committed to increasing diversity within pathology leadership, focusing primarily on race and gender. However, other attributes such as leadership background, primary pathology training, sub-specialty focus, and skill sets could also be considered within diversity as academic pathology departments vary greatly across the United States.…”