Is there a ‘leaky pipeline’ for women in clinical medical physics in Canada?

Abstract

We examined the role of women in academic medical physics departments in Canada through various stages of a representative career path. Data about the number of men and women at each stage of the career trajectory was obtained through the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP), departmental websites, informal surveys, and archived newsletters. For the year 2014, we found that the percentage of medical physics graduate students that were women was comparable to the percentage for general physics at 30%. Women were not as well represented at the resident stage (22%); however the small total number of residents in Canada may be a confounding factor. Female representation at the Member of the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (MCCPM) level was comparable to graduate students at 29%; however there was decrease in the proportion of women (17%) with the fellowship distinction of CCPM (FCCPM). Further analysis suggests that this may be at least in part due to the natural time delay between career stages. Generally, there were a lower proportion of women at the highest levels of clinical medical physics. Of the 21 Canadian centers associated with Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP)-accredited residencies, only three had female clinical directors. Overall, women who choose to enter the clinical medical physics career path remain in and progress through the field; however, there are comparatively fewer women in leadership positions. This may change in time as the increasing number of women entering the field each year advance through their careers.