Analysis of the proportion of women at different ranks of academic advancement in medicine in Germany

Background and objective: In Germany leadership positions in medicine are characterized by an almost complete lack of women. The goal of this study was to determine the representation of women among different career ranks during medical school, residency and academic advancement during the past 20 years. Methods: The annual reports of the German Federal statistic Office in Wiesbaden were checked for the numbers of medical students. dissertations, physicians, internists, fellows and trainees at universities, habilitations and professorships. Results: Among medical students, final examination, dissertation, physicians, internists and trainees at universities a proportion of women can be found nowadays which is at a 15 % higher percentage level than 20 years ago. Among assistent professors and habilitations at universities there is a very low proportion of women, which did increase only slightly from 5 to 10% during the past 20 years. Within the same period of time the total number of professors and the proportion of female professors were nearly unchanged. Reunification of East and West Germany led to an increase of the representation of women among all levels of qualification which is due to the much higher proportion of female physicians in the former GDR. Conclusions: The lack of women in leadership positions in medicine in Germany is not due to a general lack of women in medicine. Among all other career ranks the proportion of women increased by 15%. The completely unchanged number and composition of the professors during the past 20 years suggests that the lack of women among this professional group has to do with conservatism which is an inherent trait of university professors in Germany.