Dr. Jane M. Liebschutz, MD, MPH, FACP, has been appointed to the UPMC Endowed Chair in Translational Medicine and Research.

In addition to her appointment, Dr. Liebschutz has also been promoted to the rank of Professor, with tenure, in the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

"[I'm] happy to be joining the ranks of many other esteemed scholars and role models," said Dr. Liebschutz on social media. "I’m honored!"

Dr. Liebschutz's appointment occurs when the achievements of women in academic medicine, as well as the opportunities available to them, are arguably more important than ever.

According to a 2012 study in Academic Medicine, "Women leaders of U.S. LCME-accredited medical schools have taken longer to advance through the academic ranks, serve at less research-intensive institutions, and had shorter tenures than did men deans. These results underscore the challenges women leaders face in traditionally male-dominated organizations, and they provide baseline data to inform medical schools building inclusive senior leadership teams."

As of August 2018, the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh was home to 88 male and 89 female assistant professors. However, while there are 78 male associate professors, there are only 44 female faculty members in the same position. There are even fewer female full professors -- only 28, compared to 83 male professors.

A 2014 survey by the Association of American Medical Colleges found that the proportion of full-time full professors who are women had increased by 7% between 2004 and 2014, from 14% to 21%. Dr. Liebshcutz is the 25th woman currently in the Department of Medicine to become a full professor.

Dr. Liebschutz's promotion is a promising move with regard to equality in women's leadership within the Department of Medicine, as well as a deserved recognition of her excellent leadership of the Center for Research on Health Care and the Division of General Internal Medicine.

April 1st, 2019