Faculty Collaboration Database

Representation of Women on Journal Editorial Boards Affiliated with the Association of American Medical College's Council of Faculty and Academic Societies. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2021 Aug;30(8):1095-1106

Date

01/27/2021

Pubmed ID

33497583

DOI

10.1089/jwh.2020.8676

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85113289609 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   11 Citations

Abstract

Background: The Council of Faculty and Academic Societies (CFAS) comprises representatives from medical schools and professional societies who guide the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Given the AAMC's stated mission to improve diversity and inclusion, we used gender-related representation on journal editorial boards as a proxy for evaluating CFAS member societies' commitments to equity. Methods: From screenshots of journal mastheads (n = 44) collected June 3-6, 2019, individuals were categorized by editorial position. Outcome measures included numbers of men and women among faculty, deans, department chairs, physicians, and nonphysicians on editorial boards. Outcomes were compared with 2018 AAMC and US Bureau of Labor Statistics workforce data. Results: Overall, the proportion of women among journal editors was 29.0% (364 of 1,255), range 0%-53.3%. This proportion was significantly less than the proportion of women among US medical school faculty and medical scientists. The lowest percentages of women were found among journals' section or topic editors (19.2%) and editors-in-chief (20.4%). Men were significantly more likely to be a professor or department chair and women were significantly more likely to be an associate professor or assistant professor, suggesting a bidirectional process between rank and editorial position that may inhibit the advancement of academic women, particularly women physicians. Conclusions: This study revealed disparities in the equitable representation of women among CFAS member-affiliated journal editors. Because CFAS member societies participate in a mutually beneficial relationship with the AAMC, they should strive to attain the equity goals set forth by the AAMC.

Author List

Ellinas EH, Best JA, Kowalski AM, Sharkey KM, Shillcutt SK, Al-Assi K, Silver JK

Author

Elizabeth H. Ellinas MD Associate Dean, Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Faculty, Medical
Female
Humans
Male
Physicians, Women
Schools, Medical
Societies, Medical
United States