Gender-Based Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in Medical Physics

American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) chapter climate check: Mixed methods analysis of survey responses

INTRODUCTION

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) recently shared results and recommendations from its first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Climate Survey, which was designed to assess the climate at the workplace, the AAPM organization, and the AAPM regional chapter level. This work further explores the status of EDI at the regional chapter level.

METHODS

AAPM's EDI Survey was distributed to 5500 members and had a response rate of 25%. In the survey, three open-ended comment boxes were provided for feedback, including one for regional AAPM members. Sixty-four percent of respondents indicated they were part of a regional chapter, and 6% provided written responses to the regional chapter question. Responses were analyzed using a mixed methods approach with an exploratory sequential design. Two phases were conducted; the first relied on a Grounded Theory quantitative systemic approach, and the second applied qualitative analysis. Chapter member demographic data were collected to support findings.

RESULTS

Survey respondents provided open comments and feedback on their regional chapter's climate. Data are summarized as five themes: positive experiences, negative experiences, challenges within chapters, diversity and inclusion, and changes observed. Experiences of regional chapters were rated positively by 75% of respondents. Respondents found their chapters were welcoming, and some noted their great chapter leadership. A number of incidents of sexual harassment, bullying, and discrimination incidences were also shared. Other respondents observed exclusion based on their gender, race, highest degree, and medical physics specialty. Chapter leadership data aligned with these claims, with most leaders to-date being white males, doctoral degree holders, and/or specializing in radiation therapy.

CONCLUSION

AAPM chapters provide rewarding professional opportunities. This study has highlighted positive and negative experiences reported by its members. The major themes identified can guide chapter leaders to continue to cultivate welcoming communities for regional AAPM members.

Women in the Medical Physics Workforce: Insights from Membership Trends of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, 1993 to 2023

PURPOSE

Women remain underrepresented in medical physics in the United States, and determinants of persisting disparities remain unclear. Here, we performed a detailed investigation of American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) membership trajectories to evaluate trends in Full membership with respect to gender, age, and highest degree.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Membership data, including gender, date of birth, highest degree, membership type, and years of active membership for 1993 to 2023 were obtained from AAPM. Group 1 included Full members who joined AAPM in 1993 or later. A subset of group 1 including only members who joined and left AAPM since 1993 (former members, group 1F) was used to calculate age at membership cessation and duration. Results were compared by gender and highest degree. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was also used to evaluate membership "survival" by age and highest degree.

RESULTS

Complete data were available for 6647 current and former Full members (group 1), including 2211 former members (group 1F). On average, women became Full members at a significantly younger age than men (34.6 vs 37.5 years of age, P < .001) and ended their memberships (if applicable) at a significantly younger age than men (46.1 vs 50.1 years of age, P < .001). The Kaplan-Meier "survival" analysis showed that for a given age, women were at a significantly greater risk of membership cessation than men, and women with master's degrees had the lowest membership survival of any gender/degree subgroup. When analyzing by membership duration, there was no difference in survival by gender alone. Still, women with PhDs were found to have the greatest membership survival among gender/degree subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both gender and degree type influenced AAPM membership trajectories. Although we have offered a discussion of possible explanations, qualitative data collected from both continuing and departing AAPM members will be critical in the ongoing journey toward gender parity in the profession of medical physics.