Do Women Physicians Leave Practice Earlier Than Men? - Summary - MDSpire

Do Women Physicians Leave Practice Earlier Than Men?

Nationwide US analysis suggests higher attrition risk across specialties and younger exit ages among women physicians.

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • April 7, 2026

  • 2 min

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Objective:

To evaluate the likelihood of clinical practice attrition among female versus male physicians across various ages, specialties, and practice settings.

Approach:
    Key Findings:
    • Include unadjusted rates: 4.57 exits per 100 person-years for female vs 4.33 for male.
    • Specify attrition rates by specialty: 1.55 in primary care, 1.41 in ObGyn, etc.
    Interpretation:

    Expand on potential systemic issues affecting retention.

    Limitations:
    • Provide examples of how low clinical volume may lead to misclassification.
    Conclusion:

    The findings highlight a concerning trend of higher attrition rates among female physicians, necessitating further investigation into the underlying causes.

    Sources:

Original Source(s)

Do Women Physicians Leave Practice Earlier Than Men?

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • April 7, 2026

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