The glass ceiling is cracking but still intact in medical leadership, where the barriers to women doctors taking top roles are no longer as obvious as they once were, writes Monash Health academic Professor Helena Teede.

Women have made up half the intake in Australian medical schools for decades yet continue to be underrepresented in senior roles, she writes in the MJA.

“The age-old argument that this is due to a time lag or pipeline effect clearly no longer applies.”

Around 30% of deans, chief medical officers or medical college board or committee members are women, who also make up 12% of CEOs in large hospitals.