Researchers at Harvard University analyzed four years of medical records from 1.5 million hospitalized patients aged 65 and older to compare outcomes under male and female physicians. The findings? Patients treated by female doctors had an 11% mortality rate within one month of admission, versus 11.5% for those under male doctors. Readmission rates were also lower: 15% for female physicians compared to 15.5% for males. This small but significant gap could translate to a 0.5% reduction in mortality—potentially saving 32,000 lives annually among 1.5 million patients.
Prior research supports these results, showing female physicians more consistently follow clinical guidelines and provide superior preventive care counseling. Male doctors, by contrast, may rely more on personal judgment. Patients also report preferring female providers. Yet, despite their edge in patient outcomes, women in medicine earn less than men—a disparity that demands attention.
