Women live longer than men. That’s a well-established fact across all sectors of society — except, it turns out, in the profession of medicine.

A 2025 study from Harvard Medical School found that while women generally have lower mortality rates than men in most professions, this benefit doesn’t hold true for women physicians. Even more concerning, Black women physicians were found to have the highest mortality rate among doctors. These findings raise urgent questions about the persistent, systemic inequities facing women in medicine — and how those inequities are taking a toll on health and longevity.

Dr. Kim Templeton, orthopedic surgeon, professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and a past president of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), wasn’t surprised. She has spent her career researching and speaking out about the challenges women physicians face.

In an interview with the Association of American Medical Colleges, Dr. Templeton said, “Women, including physicians, are trained by society to want to take care of everyone else before themselves,” Dr. Templeton says. “When do women physicians have time to take care of themselves?”

Behind the Data: The Toll of Systemic Inequity

The Harvard study didn’t analyze causes of death directly, but researchers pointed to disparities in pay, workload, burnout, and hostile work environments as likely contributors. Other national data supports this connection:

  • Women physicians are paid less than men, even when working in the same roles.
  • They face significantly higher rates of burnout.
  • They shoulder disproportionate home and caregiving responsibilities — even years into their careers.
  • Many experience sexual harassment and gender-based microaggressions on a regular basis.
  • These stressors not only wear down well-being over time, but they may also lead to chronic illness, decreased resilience, and earlier mortality.

Hostile work environments take their toll. Dr. Templeton shared with the AAMC that “The issue with microaggressions is that women are exposed to them so much, it almost feels like we face some sort of issue on a daily basis…You develop a position where you are on edge waiting for the next negative comment or behavior to happen.”

Burnout, Bias, and the Double Shift

According to a 2022 AMA survey, 57% of women physicians reported symptoms of burnout, compared to 47% of men. Research shows that women physicians tend to spend more time with patients and in medical record systems — all while managing more unpaid responsibilities at home.

As Dr. Templeton shared with the AAMC, “There’s only so much time during the day; when you have those demands at work and at home, you get into a scenario where no matter where you are, you feel like you need to be somewhere else,” says Dr. Templeton. “That’s a recipe for burnout.”

And that burnout is linked to poor health outcomes. As the healthcare system strains under workforce shortages, it’s clear that simply recruiting more women into medicine isn’t enough. Institutions must create environments that allow women physicians to thrive.

What Needs to Change

Dr. Templeton, alongside a team of coauthors for a National Academy of Medicine paper, has helped identify specific organizational reforms that can improve well-being and equity:

  • Address Harassment and Discrimination: Implement clear policies, reporting mechanisms, and accountability.
  • Support Work-Life Integration: Create flexible work schedules, provide child care support, and protect time for parental leave and lactation.
  • Ensure Mental Health Access: Remove the stigma and professional risk associated with seeking care.
  • Foster Mentorship and Community: Offer peer support groups and career development opportunities tailored for women.

As more women enter medicine — now making up nearly 55% of medical students — the imperative to build equitable, supportive systems is greater than ever.

AMWA’s Role in Advancing Gender Equity

AMWA has long championed the advancement and well-being of women in medicine. Through research, advocacy, and leadership development, AMWA members — including past presidents like Dr. Templeton — continue to push for the structural changes needed to ensure that women physicians not only succeed but thrive.

This new research confirms what many in our community have long known: the current system asks too much of women physicians while giving too little in return. It’s time to build a profession that values, protects, and sustains all those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

Let’s make longevity in medicine something all physicians can count on — not just some.