Operational Constraints and Gender Biases: A Qualitative Analysis of Physician Parenting Experiences

OBJECTIVE: Although parenting responsibilities are correlated with gender disparities in professional development and salary, the nature of parental challenges is not well characterized. The aims of this study were to (1) illuminate faculty physicians' experiences with parenting and (2) identify system challenges and opportunities for improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In October 2019, a survey about parenting was sent to all physician faculty at a large Midwest academic medical center. Qualitative analysis of free-text response to the survey item “is there anything you wish to share about your experience of pregnancy or parenting as a physician” was performed. Themes were inductively identified and developed from the responses in a team-based iterative approach. RESULTS: Of 2069 total physician faculty, 1085 (52.4%) responded to the survey and 253 (23%) of the respondents provided free-text comments. From these comments, the authors identified three themes as sources of challenges for physician parents: operational constraints, gender biases, and nontraditional or nonheteronormative family structures. Operational factors pertained to lack of scheduling flexibility, childcare challenges, lactation, colleague coverage, and transparency of policies. Responses indicated that gender biases are encountered by all genders, and expectations built on assumptions of “traditional” gender roles and family structure are problematic for many physician parents. CONCLUSION: Addressing the challenges and opportunities identified in the study is critical to building a more supportive institutional culture around parenting and to increase gender parity in academic medicine.