JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The aim is to learn from the experiences and perspectives of women physicians as they transition from early to mid-career phase, then develop best practices which can serve to support women physicians as they advance through their careers.

Objective:

The aim is to learn from the experiences and perspectives of women physicians as they transition from early career to mid-career phase, then develop best practices which can serve to support women physicians as they advance through their careers.

Methods:

The Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences at Maastricht University approved the study; Stanford University expedited review approved the study; and the University of California - San Diego certified the study as exempt from review. Twelve in-depth interviews of 50 to 100 minutes in duration were completed. Preliminary analyses indicate one key theme is a tension resulting from finite time divided between demands from a physician career and demands from family needs. In turn, this results in constant boundary control between these life domains that are inextricable and seemingly competing against each other within a finite space: family needs impinge on planned career goals, if the boundary between them is not carefully managed. To remedy this, women sought resources to help them redistribute home responsibilities, freeing themselves to have more time especially for children. Women similarly sought resources to help with career advancement, although not with regards to time directly, but to first address foundational knowledge gaps about career milestones and how to achieve them.

Results:

Study approval was received from the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences at Maastricht University; expedited review and approval from Stanford University; and certified as exempt from review from University of California San Diego. Twelve in-depth interviews were completed and transcribed. Preliminary analyses indicate one key theme is a tension resulting from finite time divided between demands from a physician career and demands from family needs. In turn, this results in constant boundary control between these life domains that are inextricable and seemingly competing against each other within a finite space: family needs impinge on planned career goals, if the boundary between them is not carefully managed. To remedy this, women sought resources to help them redistribute home responsibilities, freeing themselves to have more time especially for children. Women similarly sought resources to help with career advancement, although not with regards to time directly, but to first address foundational knowledge gaps about career milestones and how to achieve them.

Conclusions:

Preliminary results provide initial insights about how women identify or activate a career shift and how they marshaled resources and support to navigate barriers they faced. Further analyses are continuing as of March 2022 and expected to be completed by June 2022. The dissemination plan includes peer-reviewed open-access journal publication of the results and presentation at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association’s Women Physicians Section.