childbearing during medical training years has
long been known to educators, little
progress has been made to satisfactorily resolve
it. The problem is being addressed on
an ad hoc basis, which may in some cases provide
for flexibility, rather than by having
written institutional policies addressing
maternity leave. As the percentage of women
medical students increases, this issue will
probably be brought to the forefront.
There is conflicting advice being offered on
preparing for parenting, with some
advocating preparation, while others emphasizing
the importance of the need to adapt as
problems arise. Certainly, medical residents,
who frequently are guaranteed about six
weeks of parental leave, should advise their
program directors well in advance so that
adequate coverage during their absence can be
provided. It should be noted that a sub-
stantial number of residency programs do not
have written parental leave policies and
that those that do vary.
Of special significance are the child-care
arrangements that are made prior to deliv-
ery. In most cases where a day-care center or
other facility has to be used, the availabil-
ity of a backup care provider is still
essential. A supportive spouse is a key element in
the quest to attain successful
parenting.
There appears to be no ideal time for a woman
physician to have a child. Young
children may make it difficult to pursue her
studies and training, and she may be at a
financial disadvantage during that part of her
life. Conversely, delaying child bearing
may result in infertility as a result of normal
age-related changes. This is a highly per-
sonal choice, and individual circumstances will
influence it. Young women, perhaps,
should seek the advice of older women
physicians as they make their plans.
For additional information see:
Journal of the American Medical Women's
Association, May/June 1992.
Working and Parenting by B. Brazelton,
Addison-Wesley, 1985.
Day-Care: Finding the Best Child Care for Your
Family, American Academy of
Pediatrics, Dept. C/H, 141 NW Point Blvd, Elk
Grove, IL 60007.
Medicine and Parenting, 1991, and Building a
Stronger Women's Program, 1993,
AAMC Publication Sales, 2450 N Street NW,
Washington, DC 20037.
Bottom Line
· Currently at least 50% of all
applicants to medical school are women.
· Currently, almost 50% of all those
admitted are women.
· Given the above situation, it is
anticipated that half of all prospective residents
will be women, but their distribution among the
specialties will vary greatly.
· Women are admitted to all U.S. medical
schools. The last remaining all-women
medical school accepted its first male students
in 1970.
· Women tend to not do as well as men on
the basic science segment of the licens-
ing exam. In the second and third parts, which
are clinically oriented, the gender
gap apparently disappears.
· Women medical students appear to
experience more stress than males, which may
be manifested as depression, increased alcohol
use, and personal problems.
· More than half the women specialists
are board certified.
· The number of married women entering
medical school is low (about 15%). By
graduation this number usually
doubles.
· Women predominantly favor
specialization in pediatrics, psychiatry, family prac-
tice, and obstetrics/gynecology. Only very
limited numbers are seeking postgradu-
ate training in general surgery and
consequently, any of its subspecialties.
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