The San Bernardino County Medical Society joins the American Medical Association in celebrating September as Women in Medicine Month. It is an opportunity to recognize the growing number of women physicians and acknowledge their influence in the community.

The theme for the 2006 celebration is "Shaping the Future of Medicine." It is an apt choice, considering these statistics from the Association of American Colleges. In the year 2004-05, women represented:

50 percent of applicants to medical school

49 percent of medical students

47 percent of medical school graduates

42 percent of residents and fellows

32 percent of medical faculty members

18 percent of division/section chiefs

11 percent of department chairs

45 percent of assistant deans

10 percent of medical school deans