Disclosures: Marlena Rose. Mueller, DO: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest
Objective: Despite women accounting for nearly half of all medical school graduates in the US, female physicians remain underrepresented among Physiatry residency programs, fellowships, and clinical practice. In 2017, 35.3% of practicing Physiatrists were female (AAMC), and according to ACGME data, females accounted for 37.3% of all current Physiatry residents in 2018-2019, which is a decreased number from recent years. The aim of the study is to determine the proportion of female Physiatry fellows in ACGME-accredited fellowships.
Design: Gender demographics for Physiatry fellows were analyzed for 5 ACGME-accredited fellowships (Pain, Sports, Brain injury, Spinal Cord Injury, and Pediatric Rehab) from publicly available information catalogued by the AAMC and ACGME from the past 5 years. Setting : Academic teaching institution Participants : PMR fellows in the 5 ACGME-accredited fellowships
Interventions: Gender demographics for Physiatry fellows were analyzed for 5 ACGME-accredited fellowships (Pain, Sports, Brain injury, Spinal Cord Injury, and Pediatric Rehab) from publicly available information catalogued by the AAMC and ACGME from the past 5 years.
Main Outcome Measures: In 2018-2019, female physicians represented 29% of all fellows in the 5 fellowship programs. The lowest was in Pain fellowships (21%).
Results: Physiatry fellowship programs overall have a low level of female representation. Statistical analysis indicates that gender diversity has not been improving over the last 5 years, and has actually overall declined. In 2018-2019, female physicians represented 29% of all fellows in ACGME-accredited multidisciplinary Pain, Sports Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury, Brain Injury, and Pediatric Rehab fellowship programs. The percentage of female physicians was highest in Pediatric Rehab fellowships (81%) and lowest in Pain fellowships (21%). Conclusions: Despite women accounting for nearly half of all medical school graduates in the US, female physicians remain underrepresented among Physiatry fellowships overall, particularly in Pain Medicine.
Level of Evidence: Level III
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Mueller MR, Kim CH. Gender Discrepancies in PM&R Fellowship Programs [abstract]. PM R. 2020; 12(S1)(suppl 1). https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/gender-discrepancies-in-pmr-fellowship-programs/. Accessed May 31, 2025.« Back to AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2020
PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/gender-discrepancies-in-pmr-fellowship-programs/