Male Physician Leaders More Likely To Have Training Paid For, Survey Finds

By Elizabeth Gregerson

Male physician leaders were more likely than female physician leaders to have received organizational funding for formal training and certifications, according to survey results published July 15.

Researchers from Houston Methodist administered the Healthcare Physician Leadership Survey between 2024 and 2025 to assess the development pathways and challenges experienced by physician leaders.

Here are five notes from the survey results:

1. Of the 254 physician leaders who responded, 70% were affiliated with a hospital or health system.

2. Emotional intelligence and communication skills were rated as the most important skills for success, at 94.7% and 93.5%, respectively, followed by team building and collaboration at 88.8%, strategic thinking at 88.4%, and time management at 83.2%.

3. Leaders said these skills were primarily acquired through on-the-job experience and supported by mentorship and peer networks.

4. Among respondents, men were more likely than women to say they received organizational funding for formal training and certifications, at 38.3% and 24.2%, respectively.

Men were also more likely than women to hold a graduate degree, at 53.8% and 36.6%, respectively.

5. Balancing clinical and leadership responsibilities was rated as the most common challenge faced by physician leaders at 51.6%, followed by staffing shortages at 39%, budget constraints at 38.6% and interdepartmental communication issues at 27.2%.

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