title: Increasing diversity in pediatric hematology/oncology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diversity is necessary for the survival and success of both biological and social systems including societies. There is a lack of diversity, particularly the proportion of women and minorities in leadership positions, within medicine [Leadley. AAMC 2009. Steinecke and Terrell. Acad Med 2010;85:236-245]. In 2009 a group of ASPHO members recognized the need to support the career advancement of women and minority members. This article reports the results of a survey designed to characterize the comparative career pathway experience of women and minority ASPHO members.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of ASPHO members modified a published Faculty Worklife survey [Pribbenow et al. High Educ Policy 2010;23:17-38] for use by Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologists (PHOs). A link to an online version of the survey was sent to all ASPHO members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1,228 ASPHO members polled, 213 responded (17%). Women and minority PHOs reported less satisfaction than their counterparts on 70 of the 90 issues addressed in the survey including the hiring process, access to resources as well as integration and satisfaction with their organizations. Women also expressed greater dissatisfaction with issues of work-life balance, support for family obligations and personal health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current literature suggests that there are significant disparities in career opportunities, compensation and satisfaction for women compared to men and minority compared to majority faculty in academic medicine [Nivet. J Vasc Surg 2010;51:53S-58S; Peterson et al. J Gen Intern Med 2004;19:259-265; DesRoches et al. Acad Med 2010;85:631-639; Castillo-Page. AAMC 2008]. Our data, derived from a survey of ASPHO members, suggests that this holds true for PHOs as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. efruge@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frugé
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lakoski
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luban
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lipton
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Poplack
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagey
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Felgenhauer
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hilden
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Margolin
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Vaiselbuh
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006405:Hematology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008913:Minority Groups; D010372:Pediatrics; D010822:Physicians, Women; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States