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

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

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A nationwide longitudinal study reveals that female physicians are significantly more likely to leave clinical practice than their male counterparts, with a likelihood of attrition of 1.43 across various ages, specialties, and practice settings. Female physicians exit at a median age of 49 years, compared to 64 years for males. The study, utilizing Medicare data from 2013 to 2023, showed consistent patterns in both rural and urban environments and across specialties, with ObGyn and psychiatry having the highest rates of female attrition. Findings underscore a critical trend in the retention of female physicians in the workforce.

Original Source(s)

Do Women Physicians Leave Practice Earlier Than Men?

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • April 7, 2026

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