Female graduates of a predominantly black college of medicine: their characteristics and challenges.

To obtain detailed information about the general characteristics of and the special challenges faced by its predominantly black female graduates. Howard University College of Medicine included an oversampling of women in an extensive 1985-1986 follow-up survey of alumni. Women were asked specific questions about their experiences as women medical students and physicians. Comparative results for the 168 female and 560 male respondents show interesting similarities and differences. Male and female respondents serve the same large proportion of black and female patients, while a higher proportion of the women practice in large cities, provide primary care, and serve younger and poorer patients. Special challenges of being women in medicine include lack of support from faculty, spouses, and colleagues, especially in the areas of child rearing and household management. Although comparisons of earlier (1924-1969) and later (1970-1980) women graduates reveal some improvements, findings include a continuing need to eliminate the dual problems of sexism and racism that have historically faced black women medical students and physicians. Suggestions for continued improvement include support groups, consciousness raising activities, and further research related to women in medicine.