The role of psychologists at U.S. medical schools is being marginalized, study finds

Most psychologists working in U.S. medical school settings have not advanced in rank and tenure as rapidly as their colleagues with comparable levels of experience who work in traditional academic settings, according to a survey published in the April issue of APA's American Psychologist
(Vol. 54, No. 4, p. 272-276).

Since the 1970s, the largest single proportion of psychologists in medical school settings have been assistant professors and non-tenure track psychologists, says Jessica Kohout, PhD, director of the APA Research Office. She conducted the survey with Steven Williams, PhD, assistant director of the APA Research Office.

"The implications of these findings are troubling," their study concludes. "They suggest what could be called a marginalization of the psychologist's role in medical schools, including not being appointed to psychology faculty, no tenure, limits on privileges of various types and a devaluation of the research role."

Nearly 2,000 psychologists responded to the 1997 survey, which asked about psychologists' role at medical schools, their income and limits on privileges or membership on medical staffs.

Respondents reported an annual median base salary of $66,100. The majority of medical school psychology faculty (58 percent) was required to generate all or part of their income through clinical work and research. About one-third of the medical school psychology faculty said they were obligated to generate slightly more than half of their overall salary through clinical work.

Another one-third was required to generate their salaries through research grants. The remaining third had an arrangement that required them to fund a median of 100 percent of their own income through a combination of clinical work and research grants, the survey found. This arrangement differs from nonmedical academic settings in which a salary is guaranteed regardless of the amount of clinical or research work involved.

The survey also asked about hospital privileges. While at least 56 percent of psychologists reported they were members of the medical staff within their medical school setting, less than 30 percent of the psychologists who were members, regardless of their rank and tenure status, reported that they were extended full membership privileges, including the authority to admit patients, write patient orders and vote on hospital policies and procedures.

--L. Rabasca



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