PHOTO Dr. [Amy Halverson], a colorectal surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital who has cut back from working 14- hour days plus weekends, talks with patient William Beckham. GRAPHIC: Ranks of female physicians surge in U.S. The percent of female physicians nearly tripled in the U.S. between 1975 and 2002. About half of current medical school students are female, and a large portion of female doctors in 2002 were under the age of 35. FEMALE PHYSICIANS IN THE U.S. By percent of total doctors YEAR / FEMALE DOCTORS 1975 9.1% (35,636) 1980 11.6% (54,284) 1985 14.6% (80,725) 1990 16.9% (104,194) 2000 24% (195,537) 2002 25.2% (215,005) PHYSICIANS UNDER AGE 35 In the U.S. in 2002 Female: 41.9% (58,361) Male: 58.1% (80,847) POPULAR SPECIALTIES For specialties with the largest number of female physicians in 2002: Pediatrics 50.2% Obstetrics/gynecology 37.6% Psychiatry 30.8% Family practice 30.5% Internal medicine 29.0% Note: 2002 data is the most recent available. Source: American Medical Association Chicago Tribune