FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 10, 1999

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kelley Elwood, 312/580-6497

Women’s Ranks Grow in Illinois' Medical
Profession: September Declared
"Women in Medicine Month" Statewide

Chicago – Through a proclamation signed by Governor George Ryan and Secretary of State Jesse White, September has been declared, "Women in Medicine Month" here in Illinois. September has traditionally been labeled such across the nation, but the proclamation helps signify its importance here in Illinois.

There will be more female physicians to celebrate this year than in the past. The number of women physicians in the United States continues to rise, climbing from 10 percent in 1979 to 22 percent in 1999. This number continues to increase, with the percentage of female medical students rising each year. In 1969, only 9.4 percent of medical school applicants were women. By the end of 1998, that number has more than quadrupled, with 42.5 percent of applicants being female.

Illinois surpasses the national average, with 28 percent of physicians being female, according to AMA statistics.

"Women continue to make positive strides in the world of medicine. While I am encouraged by the increased number of female physicians, we need to be encouraged to reach for the next level, to get more women into leadership positions," said Clair Callan, M.D., president of the Illinois State Medical Society.

As of 1996, the latest year for which national data are available, women held 10.3 percent of medical school professor positions, and 50 percent of assistant professor slots. Nationally, there were five women medical school Deans, and 155 female Associate Deans.

Dr. Callan is the third female president of ISMS in four years. Dr. Sandra Olson, Chicago, was the first in 1996, followed by Dr. Jane Jackman, Springfield, in 1997.

ISMS is a professional membership organization representing 16,000 physicians, practicing in all specialties statewide.

ISMS permits and encourages reproduction of ISMS news releases with the request that ISMS is credited as the source of the information.