Women in Cardiology

[FuturDocteur]

I've been accepted to medical school and though I know I could change my mind, I've been interested in cardiology for a while now. I know that cardiologists work long hours and I would like to have a family some day. Are there any women cardiologists who could offer some insight about their career? Thanks!

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[dragonfly99]

I don't know if there are any female cardiology attendings on this board.
Don't worry...you have plenty of time to discuss this issue with cardiologists (female) once you start medical school. Many people have these concerns. There are several (though not a lot) female cardiology attendings at the place I did residency. Most of them do have kids. One is even an interventional cardiologist, so it can be done.

Currently only about 18% of cardiology fellows are female, and probably a lower percentage of practicing cardiologists (I'm assuming the latter because in the past the % of female fellows must have been even lower). I would expect the number to go up a bit, since it seems like there are a lot of women medical students interested in cardiology, and there are more and more women going to med school all the time.

If you choose to do cardiology, you will probably encounter occasional negative feedback from some cardiology attendings you may work with (or who might interview you for cardiology fellowship, etc.) but these people are by far not in the majority. If you decide you want cardiology, you'll ignore these types, most likely.

Cardiology does tend to work longer hours than some other specialties, but from what I have seen the hours are definitely better than some surgical fields (like general surgery, or any type of trauma surgery). Interventional cards takes a bit longer to train for, and tends to get more emergency/on call cases, so they have the worst/longest hours among the cardiologists.

 

[J-Rad]

...Currently only about 18% of cardiology fellows are female, and probably a lower percentage of practicing cardiologists (I'm assuming the latter because in the past the % of female fellows must have been even lower)...

"In 2004, there were 140 first-time applicants for the pediatric cardiology certification examination. Of these applicants, 55% were men...
("Pediatric workforce: a look at pediatric cardiology data from the American Board of Pediatrics." Althouse LA - J Pediatr - 01-MAR-2006; 148(3): 384-385.

Can I also put a plug in for Peds Cards as a thought. Generally women are a higher proportion of pediatricians, and it looks like that may hold true of peds cards as well. Besides, the pathology is so much cooler (and during residency, the poops are usually much smaller)

(JK Dragonfly...much props and luv to the adult cardiotron peeps)

 

[dragonfly99]

Great post jrad.
I actually never thought of that, but I'm sure it's true that there are a high % female pediatric cardiologists, vs. adult cardiologists. Someone I went to college with is doing pediatric cards. I'm sure peds has a higher proportion of women than IM, so will have a higher %age doing the peds subspecialties too. You gotta like taking care of kids and dealing with neurotic parents, though...

Pediatric cards is cool if you like congenital heart dz patients. Adult cards is mostly coronary disease, with a few arrhythmias (especially a. fib).

 

[FuturDocteur]

Thank you so much for your replies!!

 

[J-Rad]

... Adult cards is mostly coronary disease, with a few arrhythmias (especially a. fib)...

Come to the Dark Side, Dragonfly. CAD and a few arrythmias? We've got arrythmias up the wazoo. We also have adults with D-TGA, L-TGA, heterotaxies, single ventricles, BAoV/AS/AI, Fontans, Mustards, Sennings, Marfans, thoracic aortic aneurysm syndrome...you want it, we got it. And they're gonna get CAD when they get all big and old-like! And we need more of your kind (IM/Cards trained ACHD specialists). Come see the power in the Dark Side...