A ten-year comparison of women authorship in U.S. dermatology literature, 1999 vs. 2009

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Shali Zhang, Emory University; Ha-Young Kim, Emory University; Rachel E.S. Hill, Emory University; Emir Veledar, Emory University; Suephy Chen, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-03-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2015
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.012
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: International Journal of Women's Dermatology
• ISSN: 2352-6475
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: S58
• End Page: S61
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, General; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Biology, Biostatistics

Abstract

Women are entering medicine at increasing rates, particularly in dermatology. In this study, we compared women's influence and status in academic dermatology with that of men by examining authorship roles in peer-reviewed dermatology literature. We examined the literature in 2009 and compared that to 10 years prior (1999). A total of 1399 articles were reviewed, 594 of which met study criteria and were included in statistical analysis. There was a marked increase in senior female authorship over a decade (22% vs. 38%, p < 0.001). Female first authorship increased as well (41% vs. 51%, p < 0.001). In contrast, changes in male senior and first authorship were not statistically significant. Federal funding for female senior authors increased over a decade (19% vs. 37%, p = 0.05), and female senior authors in the 2009 cohort were more likely to hold a dual MD/PhD degree (0% vs. 11%, p = 0.04) or pure PhD degree (11% vs. 27%, p = 0.04). Women are approaching parity with men in terms of authorship in the dermatology literature, and additional research training and attainment of federal funding have helped women publish as senior authors.