The ten women deans of the medical faculties of Spain
There are now ten female deans leading the faculties of Medicine in Spain. Of the total of 37 medical faculties of public universities, 27 percent of the top managers are women, while men occupy the other 27 positions. The representation of women in the highest echelon of these institutions continues to rise, after registering eight deans out of a total of 36 in March 2023 and only four out of 34 in 2018.
The seven women who already held this position last year and are still in office are Silvia Llorens, dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Albacete of the University of Castilla-La Mancha; Inmaculada Ballesteros, dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Ciudad Real of the University of Castilla-La Mancha; Aurora Valenzuela, dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Granada; María del Mar Tavío, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; Anna Casanovas, dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lleida; Carmen Robles, the dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Murcia; and Fatima Sabench, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the Rovira i Virgili University.
Three others have joined them this last year: Amparo Ruiz, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of the University of Valencia; Pilar Lopez, dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Madrid; and Rocío Juliá Sanchís, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Alicante. The three new deans have taken over from Francisco Javier Chorro, Carlos Félix Sánchez, and José Antonio Hurtado respectively.
In addition, there have been other replacements at the head of the Medicine deans, such as in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Alcalá, where Gabriel de Arriba has replaced Lourdes Lledó. Women represent the vast majority in Spanish health university degrees, taking over 72.7 percent of students in the field of Health and Social Services. They only have a greater presence in Education studies, where they reach 77.7 percent, according to data from the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports, published this March.
Some of these female deans told Medical Writing about the difficulties in reaching the levels of power they currently occupy, lamenting the gender gaps and glass ceilings, despite the fact that the healthcare field is highly feminized. They encouraged other women to apply for academic leadership positions. The information published in Medical Writing contains statements, data, and declarations from official institutions and health professionals. However, if you have any questions related to your health, consult your corresponding health specialist.