African American female physicians in South Carolina: role models and career satisfaction.
BACKGROUND
This study examined the factors that influenced African American women to select medicine as a career and their satisfaction with their career choice.


METHODS
Of 132 African American female physicians in South Carolina, 62 responded to a survey of open-ended questions about why they chose medicine, what they liked and disliked about their career, and who influenced their decision to become a physician.


RESULTS
The majority chose medicine for altruistic reasons and found that medicine provided challenge and the opportunity to make a positive difference. Family members, teachers, and physicians served as the common external influences in their decision to become a physician. Managed care, paper work, and time demands constituted the most disliked aspects of medicine.


CONCLUSIONS
Altruistic reasons and/or an interest in science motivated most of these African American female physicians to study medicine. Family members most often were their principal role models.
McFarland
F K
FK
Department of Medicine, South Carolina Honors College, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29203, USA.
Smith
J A
JA
West
A C
AC
Rhoades
R D
RD
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D009042:Motivation; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013022:South Carolina