ACC survey: Women remain underrepresented in cardiology

CHICAGO – The latest American College of Cardiology Professional Life Survey paints a picture of a medical specialty with an aging workforce, low numbers of women, a growing preoccupation with career burnout, and large changes in practice settings in recent years.

“I’m very concerned that we haven’t seen much growth in the number of women in adult cardiology. Twenty years ago we acknowledged a need to increase the number of women in cardiology, and 10 years ago we saw an increase, but we’ve hit a wall,” Dr. Sandra J. Lewis said in presenting the survey results at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.

Women comprise 50% of all medical school graduates, 47% of internal medicine residents, but only 11% of adult cardiologists, noted Dr. Lewis, chair of the ACC Women in Cardiology section, which conducted the survey in the fall of 2015.

It was completed by 1,349 male and 964 female cardiologists. This was the third such ACC survey; the others were done in 1996 and 2006.

The 2015 survey was the first to incorporate a section on burnout. Only 20% of female cardiologists and 26% of male cardiologists reported having no symptoms of burnout; the sex difference was statistically significant. Twenty-two percent of women and 17% of men characterized themselves as having “definite burnout,” noted Dr. Lewis, a cardiologist in group practice in Portland, Ore.

Recurring major sources of concern among both men and women were hassles related to electronic medical records, issues pertaining to Maintenance of Certification and the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the challenge of finding a suitable work-life balance.

On the other hand, 88% of female and 90% of male cardiologists pronounced themselves moderately or very satisfied with their work, and 63% of women and 65% of men indicated they were moderately or very satisfied with their compensation. In addition, 72% of women and 74% of men said they would recommend cardiology as a career.

About 65% of women reported experiencing past career discrimination, such as being passed over for a promotion, compared with just 23% of men. Furthermore, 26% of female cardiologists indicated their level of career advancement was slower than their peers, as did 8% of male cardiologists.

Other areas where significant sex-related differences were identified included subspecialty choice and practice pattern.

The shrinkage of private practice cardiology during the past 2 decades was impressive, Dr. Lewis said. In the 1996 survey, 53% of female cardiologists were in private practice. In 2006, it was down to 35%. And in the 2015 survey, only 17% of female cardiologists were in private practice. Similarly, 73% of male cardiologists were in private practice in 1996, 56% in 2006, and 23% in 2015.

In the latest survey, 18% of female and 17% of male respondents were aged 60 or older. In the 1996 survey, that was the case for 6% of women and 11% of men.

Dr. Lewis reported having no relevant financial conflicts.

[email protected]

CHICAGO – The latest American College of Cardiology Professional Life Survey paints a picture of a medical specialty with an aging workforce, low numbers of women, a growing preoccupation with career burnout, and large changes in practice settings in recent years.

“I’m very concerned that we haven’t seen much growth in the number of women in adult cardiology. Twenty years ago we acknowledged a need to increase the number of women in cardiology, and 10 years ago we saw an increase, but we’ve hit a wall,” Dr. Sandra J. Lewis said in presenting the survey results at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.

Women comprise 50% of all medical school graduates, 47% of internal medicine residents, but only 11% of adult cardiologists, noted Dr. Lewis, chair of the ACC Women in Cardiology section, which conducted the survey in the fall of 2015.

It was completed by 1,349 male and 964 female cardiologists. This was the third such ACC survey; the others were done in 1996 and 2006.

The 2015 survey was the first to incorporate a section on burnout. Only 20% of female cardiologists and 26% of male cardiologists reported having no symptoms of burnout; the sex difference was statistically significant. Twenty-two percent of women and 17% of men characterized themselves as having “definite burnout,” noted Dr. Lewis, a cardiologist in group practice in Portland, Ore.

Recurring major sources of concern among both men and women were hassles related to electronic medical records, issues pertaining to Maintenance of Certification and the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the challenge of finding a suitable work-life balance.

On the other hand, 88% of female and 90% of male cardiologists pronounced themselves moderately or very satisfied with their work, and 63% of women and 65% of men indicated they were moderately or very satisfied with their compensation. In addition, 72% of women and 74% of men said they would recommend cardiology as a career.

About 65% of women reported experiencing past career discrimination, such as being passed over for a promotion, compared with just 23% of men. Furthermore, 26% of female cardiologists indicated their level of career advancement was slower than their peers, as did 8% of male cardiologists.

Other areas where significant sex-related differences were identified included subspecialty choice and practice pattern.

The shrinkage of private practice cardiology during the past 2 decades was impressive, Dr. Lewis said. In the 1996 survey, 53% of female cardiologists were in private practice. In 2006, it was down to 35%. And in the 2015 survey, only 17% of female cardiologists were in private practice. Similarly, 73% of male cardiologists were in private practice in 1996, 56% in 2006, and 23% in 2015.

In the latest survey, 18% of female and 17% of male respondents were aged 60 or older. In the 1996 survey, that was the case for 6% of women and 11% of men.

Dr. Lewis reported having no relevant financial conflicts.

[email protected]

CHICAGO – The latest American College of Cardiology Professional Life Survey paints a picture of a medical specialty with an aging workforce, low numbers of women, a growing preoccupation with career burnout, and large changes in practice settings in recent years.

“I’m very concerned that we haven’t seen much growth in the number of women in adult cardiology. Twenty years ago we acknowledged a need to increase the number of women in cardiology, and 10 years ago we saw an increase, but we’ve hit a wall,” Dr. Sandra J. Lewis said in presenting the survey results at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.

Women comprise 50% of all medical school graduates, 47% of internal medicine residents, but only 11% of adult cardiologists, noted Dr. Lewis, chair of the ACC Women in Cardiology section, which conducted the survey in the fall of 2015.

It was completed by 1,349 male and 964 female cardiologists. This was the third such ACC survey; the others were done in 1996 and 2006.

The 2015 survey was the first to incorporate a section on burnout. Only 20% of female cardiologists and 26% of male cardiologists reported having no symptoms of burnout; the sex difference was statistically significant. Twenty-two percent of women and 17% of men characterized themselves as having “definite burnout,” noted Dr. Lewis, a cardiologist in group practice in Portland, Ore.

Recurring major sources of concern among both men and women were hassles related to electronic medical records, issues pertaining to Maintenance of Certification and the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the challenge of finding a suitable work-life balance.

On the other hand, 88% of female and 90% of male cardiologists pronounced themselves moderately or very satisfied with their work, and 63% of women and 65% of men indicated they were moderately or very satisfied with their compensation. In addition, 72% of women and 74% of men said they would recommend cardiology as a career.

About 65% of women reported experiencing past career discrimination, such as being passed over for a promotion, compared with just 23% of men. Furthermore, 26% of female cardiologists indicated their level of career advancement was slower than their peers, as did 8% of male cardiologists.

Other areas where significant sex-related differences were identified included subspecialty choice and practice pattern.

The shrinkage of private practice cardiology during the past 2 decades was impressive, Dr. Lewis said. In the 1996 survey, 53% of female cardiologists were in private practice. In 2006, it was down to 35%. And in the 2015 survey, only 17% of female cardiologists were in private practice. Similarly, 73% of male cardiologists were in private practice in 1996, 56% in 2006, and 23% in 2015.

In the latest survey, 18% of female and 17% of male respondents were aged 60 or older. In the 1996 survey, that was the case for 6% of women and 11% of men.

Dr. Lewis reported having no relevant financial conflicts.

[email protected]