Today is National Women Physicians Day

Today, February 3rd, is National Women Physicians Day.  It is the fourth time we have honored women physicians across the United States in this way.  The day was picked to honor Dr. Elisabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, who was born on this day in 1821. 

We honor all of the women physicians today, who are entering the medical profession in greater numbers today, yet continue to make approximately 8% less than their male counterparts (some studies suggest this pay gap is even larger), even though they have been shown to have better outcomes in certain studies (see, for example, one recently published study here that showed that elderly hospitalized patients treated by female internists had significantly lower mortality and readmission rates than those cared for by male internists).  Studies continue to show that women physicians are subject to gender bias, discrimination, and outright harassment and abuse (see a very recently published study in the New England Journal of Medicine here). 

Dr. Blackwell said, "If society will not admit of a woman's free development, then society must be remodeled."  Her words are still true today.  Until society has changed - and women physicians are freely and openly accepted, fairly compensated, and appropriately treated - we need to continue recognize the work ahead of us by celebrating and acknowledging days like today, National Women Physicians Day.

Dr. Hala Sabry, an emergency physician and passionate advocate for equality in medicine (and one of the leading proponents to recognize Dr. Blackwell as the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States), stated in an article in Forbes magazine in 2017, "Especially with all the negativity in the air and in the media right now with regard to women and equality, it's important to reflect and spread the word on what we've accomplished, and how far we've come."

She added, "Medicine is not immune from inequality.  But we're ready to celebrate."

Let us celebrate National Women Physician's Day.  But let us all recognize the work that we have to do ahead.