MomMD was founded in 1999 to provide support and information for women, especially mothers, in medicine. Since then, hundreds of thousands of physicians, resident physicians, medical students and premeds have logged on to find information on many topics, including starting a medical practice, studying for the MCAT or when to have a baby. With more women than men entering medical school for the first time in 2003, the need to address major challenges facing women in medicine is of increasing importance. The comprehensive survey was designed to discover whether money or number of kids are linked to career satisfaction, what a woman in medicine's life is like, what needs to be changed and much more.

The survey was published on March 20, 2004 on the MomMD website. Results for this report collected until May 31 2004 and include the answers of 504 respondents. The survey consisted of 61 questions, including 14 open-ended free text questions. The survey is ongoing and subsequent results will be published periodically. The survey can be found online at www.mommd.com/survey2004.shtmll. The results and percentages represent the answers to the specific questions, see the question details for the numbers of overalls respondents.

As with any Internet-based survey the sample is biased towards those from socio-economic groups that can afford the costs of a computer and/or internet access. The benefits of using the Internet for a survey of this type include anonymity when discussing sensitive issues and seeking out a demographic group of physicians and mothers who have busy schedules. The survey allowed them to respond at their own convenience, hence the time to answer a 61 question survey.

The following results are a sample of data analyzed so far. A full report will be available for purchase, it will include cross-tabulations of data and further results. Please contact MomMD and submit a request, you will be notified upon completion.

GENERAL

Respondents to the survey are 98.6% female and the mean average age is 32.5. A majority of respondents described their ethnicity as white (71.46%), followed by African Americans (10.54%) and Asian (6.9%). The majority of respondents were physicians (43.72%, including resident physicians). Premedical students represent 25.1% and medical students 24.29%. Most (65.89%) respondents are married with 11.6% married or partnered with another physician. 31.79% of physicians are married to other physicians. 81.52% of respondents held an undergraduate degree. Of those with professional degrees, 47.66% held an M.D. medical degree and 4.21% a D.O. medical degree. 66.84% of respondents described their work or study as full-time.

FAMILY & CAREER

Over 60% of respondents are parents, most of which have two children. 32.04% took a 6-13 week maternity leave, with 12.32% taking less than three weeks. Of those respondents needing childcare 61.59% indicated that they used a non-family member (such as a babysitter or nanny). 64.03% of respondents are very concerned about balancing a medical career with raising a family. Although, most respondents (66.41%) indicated that their choice of career did not reduce or alter the number of children they wanted.

• Results - Demographics and Characteristics (age, status, income, debt, etc)
• Results - Medical Student and Resident Physician Related
• Results - Physician and Women in Medicine Related.
• Results - Career Satisfaction and Life Balance.