In the United States, the steadily increasing number of women applying to medical schools exceeded that of male applicants for the first time for the 2003-2004 school year. Obviously, the choices of specialties for women physicians will be an important factor for the workforce. A recent sign of the growing interest in gender-based issues for academic women physicians is evident in a recent survey. This article described the current status of women anesthesiologists in the U.S. and Japan. This was based on results from a survey that compared the obstacles which women versus men in the field of anesthesiology faced. It contrasted the gender-related differences in the professional growth and retention rates in the U.S. and Japan. In addition, the article suggested factors influencing an observed trend of young female academic anesthesiologists leaving the field, and some general recommended approaches that could increase the retention rate of female anesthesiologists to positively affect the anesthesia practice in Japan.
THE JOURNAL OF JAPAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL ANESTHESIA 24 (10), 617-625, 2004
THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL ANESTHESIA