PRACTICE New Study Highlights Gender Disparities in Neurologist Compensation An AAN study, “Gender Discrepancies in Neurologist Compensation,” published in the January 21, 2022, print issue of Neurology ®, finds women neurologists’ salaries still significantly lag behind mens, according to an analysis of the Academy’s 2019 Neurology Compensation and Productivity survey. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that gender pay equality remains elusive given that women’s median weekly earnings in 2019 were 82 percent of men’s earnings. Previous studies have demonstrated that pay inequality is also widespread among physicians. The results of this AAN study show that despite adjustment for multiple confounding variables, gender-based disparities in compensation for neurologists persist. This retrospective, cross-sectional analysis adds to the existing body of evidence using data from the largest benchmarking survey dedicated to neurology and its subspecialties. Authors from the Practice Management and Technology and Health Services Research Subcommittees analyzed data from the AAN’s 2019 Neurology Compensation and Productivity survey. While the benchmarking survey wasn’t designed specifically to compare compensation between genders, the data contained thousands of AAN member responses making it possible to analyze and share this important information with neurologists. According to the new research, mean full-time equivalent (FTE) annual salary for all neurologists was $280,315, and mean standardized hourly compensation was $131. The estimated annual salary for women was 10.7 percent less (p ≤ 0.001, 95 percent confidence interval -4 percent to 16 percent) after controlling for race, region, years of practice, practice setting, call status, leadership role, and subspecialty-wage category. When broken down by years of practice, the highest earning women neurologists’ mean hourly wage (11 to 20 years of practice, $128/h) was less than that of all men neurologists except those with zero to five years of practice ($125/h). Though not the primary objective, the analysis revealed statistically significant relationships between compensation
and seven other variables: leadership role status, race (White compared to non-White), compensation method, practice setting, years in practice, call status, and subspecialty. This and other analyses are first steps in solving compensation disparities because they expose and define the extent of issues. However, the authors note that awareness is not enough. Mitigation strategies need to be implemented, studied, and shared to make true impact. The authors note the “value of a professional society in surveying its membership and helping to shed light on pay inequity among its members. Medical professional societies have a critical role in exposing gaps in treatment of its members by gender, race, and orientation…. As a recurring source of data that has grown in scope and participation since its inception, the Neurology Compensation and Productivity Survey has the potential to provide metrics to assess the impact of further interventions.” This analysis will help inform future iterations of the AAN’s Neurology Compensation and Productivity Survey, which is conducted biennially and is open to all AAN member US neurologists, advanced practice providers, and business administrators. Participants receive free access to the entire aggregated data. 2021 data is available now at AAN.com/ benchmark, and the next survey will launch in spring 2023. Authors of the study were Melissa Yu, MD, FAAN; Shannon A. Merillat, MLIS, MPH; Allison L. Weathers, MD, FAAN; David A. Evans, MBA; Rebecca A. Wolf, MBA; and John P. Ney, MD, MPH, FAAN. The manuscript was approved by the Medical Economics and Practice Committee and the AAN Boards of Directors.
March 26 Is Epilepsy Awareness Day
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AANnews • March 2022
March 26 is recognized as Epilepsy Awareness Day. The AAN is proud to partner with the Epilepsy Foundation in support of its cooperative agreement with the CDC Epilepsy program: Improving Epilepsy Education, Systems of Care, and Health Outcomes through National and Community Partnerships. The goals of this initiative are to strengthen epilepsy systems of care, address inequities in epilepsy care, and improve patient outcomes. Visit AAN.com/EpilepsyResources to find a consolidated list of epilepsy resources for physicians, patients, caregivers, and the public, including seizure first aid certification and a 24/7 helpline.
