Faculty Collaboration Database

The Impact of Women's Health Residency Tracks on Career Outcomes. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2018 Jul;27(7):927-932

Date

04/06/2018

Pubmed ID

29620953

DOI

10.1089/jwh.2017.6739

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85050319103 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   4 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Women's health residency tracks within several internal medicine residencies provide gender-specific education to residents. The impact of these programs has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine the impact that women's health residency tracks have on career outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants in the study were women's health track (WHT) graduates from three different programs. To account for the impact of gender, we also surveyed female graduates who did not participate in WHT from the same programs, paired by year of graduation (non-WHT). Participants completed an online survey and provided a copy of their updated curriculum vitae (CV). Survey responses and CV data were analyzed separately.

RESULTS: Of the 218 eligible graduates, 133 completed the survey and 86 provided a CV for a response rate of 63.8%. Regarding clinical care, 31.8% of WHT graduates focused on women's health in practice compared with only 16.1% of non-WHT graduates (Cohen's h 0.43). WHT graduates were more likely to have presented nationally on women's health topics (53.3% vs. 16.7%, p-value 0.030) and teach women's health topics (51.4% vs. 26.7%%, Cohen's h 0.51). WHT graduates were more likely to have assumed a women's health leadership role (34.5% vs. 0.0%, p-value 0.018).

CONCLUSION: Graduates of women's health residency tracks remain involved in women's health in clinical practice, scholarship, teaching, and leadership. While all internal medicine residents should receive comprehensive women's health education, WHTs are an effective way of promoting women's healthcare and scholarship.

Author List

Farkas AH, Vanderberg R, McNeil M, Rothenberger S, Contratto E, Dolan BM, Tilstra S

Author

Amy H. Farkas MD, MS Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

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

Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Career Choice
Clinical Competence
Curriculum
Female
Humans
Internal Medicine
Internship and Residency
Leadership
Male
Middle Aged
Surveys and Questionnaires
Women's Health