Ageism and Physician Employment Opportunities

Ageism and age discrimination — stereotyping, prejudice, or discrimination against older adults — are evident in all manner of workplaces, including healthcare. Biases in the hiring and firing of older physicians are usually rooted in concerns about their performance and safety records. Relatively little data, however, is available related to the effect of age on the skills and performance of non-clinical physicians working in industry settings — for example, pharmaceutical and health insurance companies. Managers should be aware of bias “blind spots” in their hiring recommendations.