Status of women in academic medicine at West Virginia University School of Medicine.

The committee on Women in Academic Medicine at West Virginia University conducted a study to compare the status of women in academic medicine at West Virginia University with national averages. We obtained data on gender distributions, ranks, degrees, and administrative titles of full-time women faculty members. Our data showed that 26% of WVUSOM faculty are women. This fell short of the national average within some departments and exceeded the national average in others. Our data also indicated that among women faculty, 15% are full professors (10% nationally), 27% are associate professors (19% nationally), 51% are assistant professors (50% nationally), and 7% are instructors (17% nationally). No clinical departments, and only two basic science departments, are chaired by women. We conclude that the proportion of women faculty and differences in rank distributions at WVUSOM mirror national trends with few exceptions. There is a lack of women in senior positions including full professors, departmental chairs, division chiefs, and academic deans at WVUSOM.