One of the recently approved strategic goals for the AAPM was to champion equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the field of medical physics. An initial step is to understand the importance of diversity and the negative impacts of a lack of diversity and harmful stereotypes or biases. As physicists, we rely on data to guide our understanding and responses. There is a wealth of data in recent publications on the continued evidence of gender bias and stereotypes in medical physics, and the potential or measurable impact on the field. Some of the available data and publications include:

• Development and testing of a database of NIH research funding of AAPM members: A report from the AAPM Working Group for the Development of a Research Database (WGDRD).
• The impact of diversity, bias and stereotype: expanding the Medical Physics and Engineering STEM workforce.
• Female medical physicists: The results of a survey carried out by the International Organization for Medical Physics.
• Participation of women medical Physicists in European scientific events: The European experience.

Similar work exists for women physicians; women have historically been underrepresented as physicians. While that is changing across medicine with more women than men enrolled in US medical schools now, there is evidence that a gender gap still exists in radiation oncology, a traditionally male-dominated specialty. Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, from University of Michigan, has been very active in this area and with her colleagues has contributed to much work on this topic including the following publications:

• Sex differences in attainment of independent funding by career development awardees. Jagsi R, Motomura AR, Griffith KA, Rangarajan S, Ubel PA. Ann Intern Med 2009 Dec 1;151(11):804-11.
• Similarities and differences in the career trajectories of male and female career development award recipients. Jagsi R, DeCastro R, Griffith KA, Rangarajan S, Churchill C, Steward A, Ubel PA. Acad Med 2011 Nov;86(11):1415-21.
• Gender differences in publication productivity, academic position, career duration, and funding among U.S. academic radiation oncology faculty. Holliday EB, Jagsi R, Wilson LD, Choi M, Thomas CR Jr, Fuller CD. Acad Med 2014 May;89(5):767-73.
• Gender, Professional Experiences, and Personal Characteristics of Academic Radiation Oncology Chairs: Data to Inform the Pipeline for the 21st Century. Beeler WH, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019 Jan 23 [Epub ahead of print].

The proponents of the EDI strategic goal are considering these and similar works in evaluating the necessity of increased EDI awareness and measurable benefits from increasing diversity in the field of medical physics.