Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41802800›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Perspectives of female and under-represented physicians on well-being in medicine: a qualitative study from an academic medical centre in the USA.

Anish K Agarwal, Rachel E Gonzales, Meghana Sharma, Devon Schroeder, David A Asch, Nandita Mitra, Lauren Southwick, Lisa M Bellini, Raina M Merchant

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Anish K AgarwalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA anish.agarwal@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2175-0196
Rachel E GonzalesDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Meghana SharmaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Devon SchroederDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
David A AschDepartment of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Nandita MitraDepartment of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Lauren SouthwickDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5290-9759
Lisa M BelliniDepartment of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Raina M MerchantDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStress and burnout are pervasive among physicians. Academic physicians who are female and physicians who are under-represented in medicine (URM) face inequities in the workplace and beyond. Understanding their experiences is crucial for workforce sustainability and diversity, especially given the disproportionate effects on these individuals and overall workforce capacity.

objectiveTo qualitatively explore the perspectives of academic female and URM physicians and identify key themes affecting their careers and well-being.

designSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 physicians at an urban academic health system. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using a general inductive approach. Interview guides were informed by prior literature and constructs.

interventionNone. SETTING AND

participantsFemale and URM physicians from a large, academic medical centre were recruited via email. Participants self-reported demographic information, including sex, race, ethnicity and tenure. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcomes encompassed the main themes identified through the analysis of interviews with female and URM physicians regarding their perspectives on well-being, mental health and academic medicine.

results30 female or URM physicians were interviewed (27 (90%) female; 14 (47%) black, Asian or multi-racial). Thematic analysis revealed four key themes: physician identity (URM, female, family), well-being in the workplace (emotional health, staffing burden, non-clinical responsibilities), barriers to accessing well-being resources (workplace environment, culture, overgeneralisation) and facilitators to well-being (physician camaraderie, leadership support). Physicians discussed how their identities influenced their experiences of well-being. They highlighted emotional health challenges, staffing burdens and administrative tasks contributing to stress. Barriers to accessing resources included workplace culture and broad-based interventions, while supportive leadership and camaraderie were identified as facilitators of access.

conclusionFemale and URM physicians face systemic challenges impacting their well-being and careers. These findings underscore the need to address systemic changes and specifically design programmes focused on promoting the well-being and inclusivity of female and URM physicians. Tailored interventions to these individuals, supportive leadership structures and collaborative working cultures are crucial for addressing these issues and sustaining a diverse physician workforce.

Indexed as

Academic Medical CentersAttitude of Health PersonnelBurnout, ProfessionalPhysiciansPhysicians, WomenAcademiaAdultFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicJob SatisfactionMental HealthMiddle AgedPsychological Well-BeingQualitative ResearchUnited StatesBurnoutHealth WorkforceMENTAL HEALTH

Identifiers

PMID41802800
PMCPMC12983894

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.