Get Advice for Women Interested in Entering Medicine

When it comes to women in medicine, the glass ceiling has been punctured, but not broken in all cases. Women have made many contributions to medicine, from leading the Food and Drug Administration to receiving the patent for the cataract laser and developing scoring for newborns.

In 2013, 47 percent of medical school matricula nt s were women, and women hold 38 percent of faculty positions at academic medical centers. However, when looking higher in academic ranks, fewer and fewer women are present. There are still some specialties, such as orthopedics, urology and neurosurgery which have fewer women, and consequently few, if any women, hold leadership roles.

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According to the Department of Labor, American women earn $0.78 for every dollar that men earn. Pay inequality and parental leave have pushed gender issues to the forefront of the news, and medicine is not immune to differences.

So, how do women navigate this as well as manage medical careers? The point is not to be consumed by ongoing gender issues in the workforce, but to be aware of potential challenges that may lie ahead.

When evaluating medical school programs, female students should look at the number of women in leadership positions -- such as deans, department heads, clerkship directors and faculty members -- and the percentage of women in class.

When you interview at medical school, pay attention to the presence of women faculty and gender of class composition. Do research before the interview and observe who you meet and interact with once at the school.

Note that not all interviewees will want to ask specific questions that relate to gender and race. Needling interviewers about gender issues may make some uncomfortable and leave them with a negative impression of the interviewee.

If you have an opportunity, speak informally with the tour guide about the school's culture and climate for women. Though perhaps not a deal-breaker when deciding where to attend, it may be part of the decision process.

In my own experience, I have been confused with the nurse, addressed by my first name instead of "doctor," and even evaded as patients look to the male medical student for validation while I'm a speaking with them.

[Follow these seven tips to ease the transition to medical school.]

At medical school, female students might be confused with nursing students or some other allied health student, especially in situations where attire not specifically designated by role. Medical students might have short coats, or nursing students may wear white, for example. Clearly there is still work to do for women inside medicine and out.

There will be many voices that offer advice during your medical school and postgraduate training about which specialty to pursue, when to have children and when to get married. Identify a cadre of mentors and advocates -- women or men, peer or older -- with the unifying fact that these people support, listen and create space for you to be successful.

Also, learn to listen to your inner voice. The right time to pursue something is when you are emotionally and academically ready to accomplish the next goal.

Being prepared, asking for help when needed, being humble, knowing limitations, being willing to learn and working well with others are the keys to success in any career, including medicine. If something does not feel right, document the event and seek intervention or counsel.

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Speak with a clerkship director, a dean of students or a mentor. A compliance hotline is an anonymous way to report an event, and schools have policies in place to address these issues.

Remember that questions about childbearing or marital status at any level are inappropriate, including during medical school interviews.

Be aware of ongoing gender inequality in medicine and work to improve each situation, share information, network with male and female colleagues and do not settle for less than you are worth.

Sylvia E. Morris received her M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine and Master's in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A former assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine, she is currently an independent health care consultant and a community health advocate. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.