A letter published in JAMA examined trends in female representation among high-compensation medical specialties from 2008 to 2022.

Researchers analyzed data on applicants and matriculants to residency programs across various medical fields. The study found:

• The proportion of female matriculants in high-compensation specialties increased from 32.7% in 2008 to 40.8% in 2022.
• High-compensation surgical specialties saw female matriculants increase from 28.8% in 2008 to 42.4% in 2022.
• In contrast, high-compensation nonsurgical specialties showed no significant change, with female matriculants moving only from 37.6% in 2008 to 38.7% in 2022.
• The proportion of female applicants to high-compensation surgical specialties rose from 28.1% in 2009 to 37.6% in 2022, while female applicants to high-compensation nonsurgical specialties decreased from 36.8% in 2009 to 34.3% in 2022.

Researchers analyzed data from 490,437 matriculants to pipeline specialties (those leading to primary board certification), with 99.9% having sex data available. Of them, 25.5% entered high-compensation specialties, and 34.6% were female.

Limitations of the research include the lack of individual-level demographic data, such as race and ethnicity. Additionally, four specialties were excluded from applicant-related analyses due to low or no participation in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

The researchers indicated that future studies could identify strategies for attracting women to high-compensation surgical specialties and evaluate whether they could be implemented in nonsurgical fields.

The authors declared no competing interests.