Delivering Better Solutions for Women Physicians Who Experience Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childrearing

Abstract

As the number of women physicians entering the field of medicine has increased over the past decades, pregnancy and maternity leave are becoming common place during both training and independent practice. However, the current system is not designed for extended leaves of absence from the clinical environment. In this commentary, the authors review recent changes in regulatory requirements impacting women physicians in postgraduate training who experience pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing and identify solutions that may result in more optimal work environments for women physicians in practice who experience pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing.