Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Meyer, C.
Where have all the women gone?
The representation of women in Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Austria
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2021. pp. 45
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Horvath Angela
- Stadlbauer-Köllner Vanessa
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Introduction: Even though numbers of female medical students are rising, women continue to be underrepresented in medical leadership positions throughout the world. This inequality can also be seen in academic medicine where the majority of faculty members in medical conferences is male. However, national and international medical societies exist that have successfully implemented strategies to elevate the proportion of female faculty. The aim of this study is to analyse the gender distribution in conferences of the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ÖGGH) and see differences in a national comparison to the Austrian Diabetes Society (ÖDG). Methods: The main programmes of the ÖGGH’s annual conferences from 2002 to 2019 were analysed regarding the gender distribution in invited lectures, chairs, open lectures and presidency and compared with the annual conferences of the ÖDG from 2004 to 2019. Results: In the 18 analysed annual conferences of the ÖGGH, 8.4 % ( ± 7.5) invited lecturers, 9.9 % ( ± 7.5 %) chairpersons, 37.7 % ( ± 17.5) open lectures and one president were female. The ÖDG had a significantly higher proportion of female faculty than the ÖGGH in a comparable timeframe regarding invited female lecturers [27.5 % (± 7.9), p < 0.001] and female chairs [30.7 % (14.6), [p < 0.001] and a similar gender distribution in open lectures [42.9 % (8.9), p = 0.533]. The proportion of female faculty of the ÖGGH did not improve over time, whereas the ÖDG shows a significant rise in female lecturers (rs = 0.626, p = 0.009) and chairwomen (rs = 0.802, p < 0.001) since 2004. Discussion: Women are underrepresented in invited lectures, chairs and as presidents in annual conferences of the ÖGGH. The ÖGGH also has a massive deficit regarding gender balance in the national comparison with the ÖDG. This is a strong sign for gender discrimination in the academic medical field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Since there has been no significant increase over time, there is an immediate need for action to encourage gastroenterological experts regardless of their gender and establish female role models for future generations.