Studies demonstrate that building confidence, proposing management strategies and providing networking opportunities to women in medicine greatly increase leadership involvement – in one study involvement increased from 38% to 80% within 5 years3. Evaluation of leadership courses run by the AFMW and state medical women’s societies since 2002 has consistently demonstrated increased confidence of participants to undertake leadership roles. There is strong interest from medical women in participating in leadership training and AFMW has identified this as a priority area.
AFMW will be conducting leadership workshops at the MWIA Western Pacific Regional Congress on Friday October 17. We hope to see you there!
1. Yedidia MJ, Bickel J. Why aren’t there more women leaders in academic medicine? The views of clinical department chairs. Acad Med. 2001;76:453-65.
2. Levinson W, Lurie N. When Most Doctors Are Women: What Lies Ahead? Ann Intern Med. 2004;141:471-474.
3. Richman RC, Morahan PS, Cohen DW, McDade SA. Advancing women and closing the leadership gap: the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program experience. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2001;10(3):271-7.
