Current Parental Leave Policies for Medical Students at U.S. Medical Schools

A Comparative Study

Bibliographic Data

ID21612412
AuthorsMolly B Kraus (0000-0001-5738-0110, M.B. Krausis assistant professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.), John Talbott (0000-0002-7419-1845, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, corresponding author), Jennifer M V Talbott (J.M.V. Talbottis a fourth-year medical student, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona.), Ryan Melikian (R. Melikianis a second-year medical student, Wayne State School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.), Sarah A Merrill (S.A. Merrillis a third-year medical student, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona.), Sarah Merrill (0000-0002-9651-2822, Mayo Clinic in Arizona), Cynthia M Stonnington (0000-0001-7843-4309, C.M. Stonningtonis associate professor, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.), Sharonne N Hayes (0000-0003-3129-362X, S.N. Hayesis professor, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.), Julia A Files (0000-0002-6571-9687, J.A. Filesis professor, Department of Women’s Health, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.), Pelagia E Kouloumberis (P.E. Kouloumberisis assistant professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.), Pelagia Kouloumberis (0000-0001-6132-5878, Mayo Clinic in Arizona)
Year2021
Volume96
Issue9
Pages1315-1318
Publication date2021-09-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAcademic Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1040-2446 • E-ISSN: 1938-808X
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/acm.0000000000004074
PMID33769337
OpenAlexW3136395671
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited18

PURPOSE: Parental leave for new parents is essential as they adjust to the physical and psychological changes that accompany childbirth and caring for a newborn. This study sought to determine the current state of parental leave policies for medical students at medical schools in the United States. METHOD: From November to December 2019, 2 researchers independently reviewed the websites of 199 U.S. MD-granting and DO-granting medical schools (including in U.S. territories). Online student handbooks and school webpages were searched for the following keywords: "pregnant" OR "pregnancy" OR "maternity" OR "parent" OR "family" OR "child" OR "birth." Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Fisher's exact tests evaluated differences in proportion by group. RESULTS: Of 199 schools, 65 (32.66%) had parental leave policies available online or in the handbook: 39 of 155 (25.16%) MD-granting and 26 of 44 (59.09%) DO-granting schools. Of those policies, 59 (90.77%) were included in the student handbook. Most policies (28, 43.08%) were included as an option within the school's general leave of absence policy. Both parents were included in 38 (58.46%) policies; 23 (35.38%) policies mentioned only mothers; and 4 (6.15%) were unknown. An option to maintain original graduation date was offered in 21 (32.1%) schools' policies. Three schools (4.62%) included adoption as qualifying for parental leave. When comparing MD and DO programs, DO programs were statistically more likely to have a parental leave policy: 39 (25.16%) vs 26 (59.09%); P < .001. CONCLUSIONS: Balancing medical school with pregnancy and childbirth necessitates administrative support to address the inherent scheduling challenges. Currently, many schools lack parental leave policies for medical students that are easily accessible, are separate from formal leaves of absence, allow for at least 12 weeks, and are tailored to the student academic year to ensure on-time completion of medical education

Childbirth · Descriptive statistics · Family Leave · Family medicine · Maternity leave · Medical education · Medical school · Parental leave · Pregnancy · Sick leave · Sociology · Demography · Diversity and Career in Medicine · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Hospital Admissions and Outcomes · Medicine · Psychology

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