1
|
Martindale JM, Christy AL, Gombolay GY, Aravamuthan BR, Jansen L, Joshi S, Strober JB, Terrell M, Tilton AH, Pearl PL, Silver JK, Mink JW, Khakoo Y. Analysis of Gender Discrepancies in Leadership Roles and Recognition Awards in the Child Neurology Society. Neurology 2024; 103:e209746. [PMID: 39159414 PMCID: PMC11338498 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000209746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gender disparities have been demonstrated across several medical specialties, including neurology. Although women have comprised most of the child neurology trainees since 2007, it is not apparent whether this demographic shift is reflected in the Child Neurology Society (CNS) awards and leadership. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in gender representation among leadership positions and award recipients within the CNS. The primary outcome measure was the total number of board of director (BOD) positions or awards given by gender each year. METHODS A retrospective review of publicly available data was conducted on CNS members, post-training award recipients, and BOD positions, including nomination records, from 1972 to 2023. Data abstracted were restricted to gender to preserve member and nominee anonymity. Gender identification and consensus were determined through a combination of strategies and study members. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson χ2 test, and the exact binomial test to compare gender proportions and the probability of being underrepresented in awards, leadership, and nominations over time. Data are presented according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. RESULTS From 1972 to 2023, women represented 29% (44/152) of the BOD positions and 26% (61/236) of post-training award recipients presented by the CNS. Despite the increase in the proportion of women in child neurology, the overall gap in gender representation in leadership positions remains broadly stable. Only 13% (4/32) of CNS presidents have been women, a significant underrepresentation (95% CI 2.3%-52%, p < 0.004), although the representation of women in nonpresidential positions increased from 2003 to 2023. Women are also underrepresented as overall awardees (95% CI 12%-38%, p < 0.00001) except for the Philip R. Dodge Young Investigator Award, which is an investigator-initiated application. DISCUSSION Women remain underrepresented at the highest levels of recognition in child neurology despite representing most of the field. Reasons for disparities are known to be multifactorial and likely include gender bias and structural sexism. We present several discussion topics that seek to rationalize this disparity and provide suggestions for improving diversity, equity, and inclusion for leadership roles and awards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn M Martindale
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Alison L Christy
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Grace Y Gombolay
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Bhooma R Aravamuthan
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Laura Jansen
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Sucheta Joshi
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Jonathan B Strober
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Monique Terrell
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Ann H Tilton
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Phillip L Pearl
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Julie K Silver
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Jonathan W Mink
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Yasmin Khakoo
- From the Department of Neurology (J.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Providence Health and Services (A.L.C.), OR; Department of Pediatrics (G.Y.G.), Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA; Department of Neurology (B.R.A.), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis and St Louis Children's Hospital, MO; Department of Neurology (L.J.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Division of Pediatric Neurology (S.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Neurology (J.B.S.), University of California, San Francisco; Child Neurology Society (M.T.), Minneapolis, MN; LSU Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans (A.H.T.), LA; Department of Neurology (P.L.P.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.K.S.), Harvard Medical School; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (J.K.S.); Massachusetts General Hospital (J.K.S.); Brigham and Women's Hospital (J.K.S.), Boston, MA; Pittsford, NY (J.W.M.); and Division of Child Neurology (Y.K.), Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| |
Collapse
|