Female Physicians and Scientists
Situation of Female Physicians and Scientists at FMs and University Hospitals Women in Medical Care
In the matter of equal opportunities of women in management and executive positions, the issue at stake is nothing less than that of honouring a basic right. According to statistic census, already the majority of university entrants are women. Meanwhile, the number of female doctoral candidates has increased to over 50%, too. But already on the subsequent career stages a dramatic slump can be noticed as executive levels are predominantly occupied by males. Dr. Regine Rapp-Engels, the chairman of the German Medical Women’s Association (DÄB) comments on this by saying: "The future of medicine is female, but the upper managerial levels are still miles away from a balanced gender ratio, the career of medical women still needs a huge effort and is full of obstacles. Therefore, the DÄB calls for tackling equality in medicine, too. Perspectively, a balanced gender ratio should also be reflected in executive positions as with chief physicians, clinic management, in the bodies of medical self-government and in science.” Therefore, the German Medical Women’s Association calls for a mandatory fixed quota in healthcare. Also the initiative "Pro Quota in Medical Care" calls for a fixed rate of 40% at all career levels.
Current State at the FM of the TU Dresden
The FM has launched a promotion programme for women scientists in order to further increase the proportion of habilitated women.
More than half of the employed scientific staff at the FM of the TU Dresden are women. On the career stage of research assistants (mid-level academic staff) the records can state that equal proportions of women and men are represented in the permanent staff. Current data of the academic year 2013/14 show, however, that in contrast, the proportion of women among temporary employment, especially for part-time work or assistant positions, is with up to 75% significantly higher than the proportion of men. In contrast to mid-level academic staff the women's share in professorships at the FM accounts only for 16% of W2 / C3 and 13% of W3 / C4 positions. Although for years more women than men have completed a doctorate – in the academic years 2013 and 2014 there were with 62% and 65% almost twice as many women as men – the proportion of habilitated women – with an average 25% in 2013 – still is significantly behind the percentage of habilitated men. Yet, it increased to 39% in 2014. Nonetheless, a significant career break between promotion and habilitation of women scientists can still be recorded.
Mentoring Programme within the Maria Reiche Promotion Programme The programme for habilitation candidates of the TU Dresden is now also available for young researchers (postdocs and habilitation candidates) pursuing a further scientific qualification, but who are not supported by the Maria Reiche Promotion Programme. Information on the programme and contact partners can be found here:Maria-Reiche-Promotion Programme
Implementation of gene-specific measures in medical career development at our institution A working group was founded, which elaborated on central gender issues that characterize everyday life in the university clinic. With appropriate measures adapted to the location, these topics are to be implemented firmly in the hospital day. This process is accompanied and supported by the team of the project TransferGenderMed.