The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Gender Reversal in the Field of Rheumatology

Gender Reversal in the Field of Rheumatology

October 1, 2012 • By Ann Kepler

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

Academic and professional institutions are encouraging more women to assume leadership roles. Audrey B. Uknis, MD, professor of medicine and senior associate dean for admissions and strategy at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, finds that women “have many opportunities in academic careers including advancement in the areas of patient care, research, education, and administration.” As women take advantage of their choices, they are able to build careers that meet both professional and personal goals. The strides women are making in the academic setting, Dr. Uknis says, is setting precedent for both women and men colleagues who are seeking a work–life balance. “Women are, therefore, trailblazers,” she says.

You Might Also Like
  • Suggestions for Increasing Gender Diversity in Rheumatology
  • Rheumatology & The Gender Pay Gap
  • 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: How Gender Differences Affect Pain
Explore This Issue
October 2012
Also By This Author
  • The Clinician’s Role in Rehabilitation Therapy

Dr. Kahlenberg states that the University of Michigan “is in the process of lengthening the tenure clock to 10 years from 8 years to provide more flexibility.” Other institutions are considering more flexible tenure tracks, which again benefit both men and women.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Funding sources are also responding to work–life issues for women. Leslie J. Crofford, MD, Gloria W. Singletary professor of internal medicine and chief of the division of rheumatology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, explains that “the National Institutes of Health allows a personal statement describing experience or qualifications that show suitability for the project that is the subject of the application. The applicant also can describe factors such as family care, illness, disability, and active military duty that may have affected scientific advancement or productivity.” The National Science Foundation also permits applicants to balance responsibilities in the lab and at home. “Funding agencies are getting it,” Dr. Crofford says.

Future Goals

What else can be done to help women achieve parity and to ensure that needs are met for the future—for both genders and for the field of rheumatology?

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

The ACR has already started working to foster parity and offer support. Alexis Ogdie Beatty, MD, instructor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, recommends the session on work–life balance at the ACR’s annual Rheumatology Research Workshop for young investigators. The session reviews parenting and mentoring guidelines for mothers and others interested in work–life balance. Dr. Kahlenberg appreciates these efforts to “keep disparities out in the open and on the radar.”

The demographic makeup of the fellows currently in training and that of the future workforce already predicts a shortage of rheumatologists. This is partially because those retiring are being replaced by those who may take time out to start and care for families or may work part time as they balance home and work responsibilities. Thus, replacing one retiring rheumatologist with another may not be an even exchange of clinician and time resources. That is why it is imperative that the ACR continue to focus on its goal of recruiting more and more medical students and residents to consider rheumatology as a specialty.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 | Single Page

Filed Under: Meeting Reports, Practice Management, Workforce Tagged With: AC&R, ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, American College of Rheumatology, Gender, Practice Management, rheumatologist, work-life balanceIssue: October 2012

You Might Also Like:
  • Suggestions for Increasing Gender Diversity in Rheumatology
  • Rheumatology & The Gender Pay Gap
  • 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: How Gender Differences Affect Pain
  • With a Five-Point Plan and New Name, the Rheumatology Research Foundation Continues to Advance the Field of Rheumatology

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2022 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)