Dr. Joanne Magro “The Power of the Stiletto.” News Column (03)

Edition Three- Week Three; News Column:

Written by: Dr. Joanne Magro 

Disparities Among Male and Female Physicians. What you need to know:

Significant disparities exist between male and female physicians in terms of pay, leadership opportunities, and academic advancement. Women physicians often earn less than their male counterparts for the same work and are less likely to hold leadership positions in medicine. These disparities are persistent despite progress in women’s representation in the field.

Here’s a more detailed look at the disparities:

Pay: A substantial gender gap pay exists, with women physicians earning less than men, even after accounting for factors like specialty, experience, and hours worked. For example, one study found that female family physicians earned 16% less per hour than their male counterparts.

Academic Advancement: Women physicians are often passed over for tenure at major academic institutions and publish fewer articles in academic journals, potentially hindering their career progression.

Specialty Choices: There are also gender imbalances in the choice of medical specialties, which may also contribute to income disparities.

Burnout: Some studies suggest that female physicians may experience higher levels of burnout, potentially related to the combination of career demands and traditional gender roles.

Patient Interactions: Studies have found that female physicians may spend more time with patients, but this doesn’t translate to higher compensation or career advancement. These disparities are complex and multifaceted, with factors like the healthcare payment system, unconscious bias, and societal expectations all playing a role according to The American Medical Association (AMA).

What is the female male disparity?
Gender inequality weakens women in many areas such as health, education, and business life. Studies show the different experiences of genders across many domains including education, life expectancy, personality, interests, family life, careers, and political affiliation.

Are female doctors respected?
Women physicians receive less respect…And 63% of women felt that men were more respected than women. Female physicians were also significantly more likely to state that they are treated differently by administration, other physicians and patients than their male counterparts.

However, and this is a big however… Research continues to consistently indicate that patients, regardless of their gender, tend to experience better health outcomes when treated by female physicians!!! This includes lower mortality rates, fewer hospital readmissions, and reduced risk of complications!!!

Elaboration: Several studies have explored the impact of a doctor’s gender on patient outcomes.

Here’s a breakdown of the key findings:

Lower Mortality Rates: Studies have shown that severely ill hospitalized patients treated by female physician’s experience significantly lower mortality rates compared to those treated by male physicians.

Fewer Hospital Readmissions: Patients treated by female internists also demonstrate lower rates of hospital readmissions.

Better-Outcomes in Specific Specialties: Research in specialties like surgery has found that patient operated on by female surgeons experience fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.

Improved Patient communication and Engagement: Female physicians are often noted for their superior communication skills, greater emotional intelligence, and ability to build stronger relationships with patients’ engagement and compliance with treatment plans.

Greater Adherence to Evidence-Based Medicine: Studies also suggest that female physicians are more likely to practice evidence-based medicine and adhere to guidelines, which can contribute to better patient outcomes.

Potential for Patient-Centered Care: Female physicians are more likely to engage in shared decision-making discussions and actively listen to their patients, fostering a more patient-centered approach to care.

So…having discussed the current issues at hand. Where does this leave us “Females in the Medical Arena”? We already know that WE ARE SUPER WOMEN every day and wearing a plethora of hats to try and please everyone and anyone, but it’s time to take a look at the real science behind all this conjecture.

“The Difference between male and female brains”
While influencing factors like culture and family play a role in determining universal differences between the male and female genders, there’s a far more fundamental element at play: neurological development.

Research shows there are differences in male and female brain chemistry and structure, which can help explain how men and women think and process differently, as well as why each may be more susceptible to different health conditions.

 1-Studies show that men’s brains are 10% larger than women’s brains, but this fact has no impact on intelligence. In particular, one part of the male brain is larger than the female brain: the inferior-parietal lobule, which is linked to solving math problems, judging speed and estimating time.

Women instead tend to have a larger hippocampus and more neural connection density, meaning they are able to process and absorb more
information and sensory information.

2- Male and female brains also process information differently. “Women typically have verbal centers on both sides of their brains, while men’s brains typically only have verbal centers in their left hemisphere, said Steven Meyers, MD, neurologist at Endeavor Health. “As a result, women display a stronger aptitude for social cognition- like empathy and verbal communication.

3- Women also tend to have more grey matter in their brains. Grey matter helps the body process information in the brain related to muscle control, sensory perception, memory, and emotions. However, women typically use more white matter, which is the network of nerve fibers that facilitate the exchange of information and communication between different areas of the brain.

“This can help explain why men often display an affinity for action-based or task- focused projects, while women often perform well when it comes to things like multitasking, language and interpreting emotions,” said Dr. Meyers.

4- Men and women also differ when it comes to how their brains are connected. Women tend to display a stronger connection side-to-side, which can mean they excel at analyzing, drawing conclusions and have strong intuitive thinking. In contrast, men’s brains have a stronger front-to-back connection, which is typically linked to areas like motor skills and perception.

It’s worth noting that people don’t always fit into specific boxes, and many people process information or display an affinity for certain tasks regardless of their gender.

However, these scientific discoveries can help us better understand the cast of characters at hand.

“Gender-specific differences in brain structure and chemistry can lend insight into our different strengths and opportunities”, said Dr. Meyers. “It can help us appreciate each other more. Obtaining a greater understanding of the male / female brain helps gain insight as to why males and females have expertise in certain areas which surely cross the lines into everyday medical practice by both groups. I personally am just quite fine being the
empath, feeling and understanding the needs of patients, collaborating evidence given to me through the patients that most certainly showing better outcomes for patients by using the “science” and trusting my intuition.

Women in medicine are a force to be reckoned with. So, a shout out to all female providers who walks the Catwalk and Red Carpet everyday serving their community.

Don’t forget your red lipstick and crispy clean warrior scrubs!!!
So…now here’s the real truth from a REAL WOMAN who practiced Emergency Medicine. I did my Residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City in the “90’s. Things were quite different back then as just about anything was “fair game” for our mentors and Attending Physicians. The Residency Programs were highly competitive as we all watched the TV series ‘ER” and sucked up all the drama and wanted to be part of that in real life. These programs were especially competitive for
women. Maybe one or two of us fierce females were accepted out of tons of applications. Emergency Medicine was surely considered “A Man’s World”.

So what does that translate into…we needed to put our best face and armor on and seize the high drama/ high trauma moments that our male competitors were rushing to get. We all were like a flock of seagulls at the beach trying to get a potato chip in the sand when some crazy multi-trauma patient arrived by EMS on gurneys going what seemed like a 100mph and may “the best man or woman” win.

One trauma in particular always left a stain in the back of my brain. There was a patient who needed a chest tube due to a collapsed lung, and I ran busting through ready to do it. This would’ve been my very first one with no assistance. I made the incision precisely in the right place, hands were steady although I was a nervous wreck and ended up having some difficulty finishing the job as one of my Attending Physicians yelled out “Magro…you suck!!! It was only milliseconds that this whole debacle was taking
place…and then he yelled out again, “Magro…YOU SUCK!!! Go SUCK somewhere else…bring Klein in”. I stepped away like a shattered windshield as I was replaced by a male resident. This particular resident stepped in feeling all high and mighty as hearing
his name called was probably like an operetta straight out of Lincoln Center on a Saturday night performance. While in my head all I kept hearing over and over was “YOU SUCK”!!! In the end neither of us were successful due to complicating factors nor the patient ended up going to the Operating Room. But…Klein wasn’t told that he SUCKED…I was…

Let’s throw another one your way which is a bit of a daunting topic that is not talked about freely. I was in the middle of a day shift. Business as usual or shall I say chaos as usual and a 40 plus year old male comes in having a massive MI (Myocardial Infraction) …. As we all scurried with obtaining IV lines, defibrillator pads, monitors being hooked up, a cacophony of STAT orders being given by me to my nursing staff. While we are “working this patient with life saving measures” he flat lined. As I begin to start
chest compressions on him as well as the entire team working in tandem, I feel something dripping down my leg. I quickly look down and yes…I got my period. Blood through my scrubs, on the floor…perfect timing…I can’t step away from the patient…I need to save his life. That’s what I’m supposed to do right? Now, others on my side of the bed are all trying to figure out where this blood is coming from. Well…I quickly and
strongly shoved my right elbow into one of my nurses’ chests and whispered, “I NEED NEW SCRUBS” …I finished with my patient who did make it to the cardiac cath lab safely and successfully and meekly walked quickly to the break room to await my fresh new scrubs. Do males need to deal with this monthly present that God gave us women to celebrate each month? NO…

Always more to share…always keep your head up high, recite to yourself” I am Woman Hear Me Roar” by Helen Reddy…and on to the next victim like the Superhero you are!!!

Please feel free to comment or make suggestions for future pieces…

“The Doctor Joanne Magro Foundation for Physician Health and Wellness”/ jmagromd@gmail.com and Peer Support Specialist for Addiction Recovery and Support Community Outreach/ jmagromd@gmail.com.

—————————

What topics would you like to read next by authorship of Dr. Joanne Magro in the upcoming edition of her column? Leave your comments below!