Few professions have undergone as much change in recent years as that of physicians. More of them are women and more are on a payroll, rather than remaining independent and hanging out their own shingle.

• In 1980, only one in eight practicing U.S. doctors was female -- compared to one in four today.

• Moreover, about half the nation's medical students and doctors graduated in the last five years are women.

• Today, the U.S. has more than 740,000 physicians -- a 60 percent increase in less than 20 years.

• The proportion of physicians on a payroll rather than in private practice grew from 32 percent to 42 percent from 1990 to 1996.

In recent years their earnings have been falling. Between 1993 and 1995, the inflation-adjusted pay for radiologists declined 11 percent, for anesthesiologists 9 percent and for general surgeons 3 percent.

Surprisingly, some doctors are joining unions, although their ranks are small. Some 2 percent of the nation's physicians are members of AFL-CIO-affiliated unions.