Janet Bickel, left, director of the Women in Medicine Program for the Association of American Medical Colleges, with Pat Temple, M.D., at the Enhancing Career Growth and the Satisfaction for Women in Academic Medicine event.
photo by Dana Johnson
Career growth takes center stage
at event spotlighting women’s issues
Approximately 100 women from the School of Medicine gathered Friday, Oct. 8 for the school's first program dedicated to women's issues in academic medicine. The event, “Enhancing Career Growth and the Satisfaction for Women in Academic Medicine,” looked at the unique challenges women face, and sought to offer solutions to help women succeed.
The keynote speaker, Janet Bickel, former associate vice president for Medical School Affairs and director of the Women in Medicine Program for the Association of American Medical Colleges, took the floor to discuss the concerns of women faculty and to suggest ways women can help themselves advance.
“Women must do more than men to be considered competent,” Bickel said. She pointed to data that showed grants submitted with women's names must get higher scores to be funded, and that women faculty must smile more and be more nurturing than men to receive equal ratings, as some examples. But, she said, there are ways women can get over these “unconscious hurdles.”
“Don't assume your work speaks for itself,” Bickel said. Being timid, she said, is like waiting to be asked on a date. Instead, volunteer for opportunities, take risks, and don't expect to be perfect, Bickel advised.
“The more articulate you are about your own goals, the more you value your own time, the more others will,” she said.
Bickel advised institutions to assess and revise the work culture to develop women's intellectual capital. “This is worth your best attention,” she said.
“We hope that the program today will answer some questions for you, and help you as you strive to achieve your academic goals and objectives,” said Steven G. Gabbe, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine.
Gerald S. Gotterer, M.D., Ph.D., senior associate dean for Faculty and Academic Administrative Affairs, presented the facts and figures about women in the School of Medicine.
Women currently make up 31.1 percent of all faculty, which is on par with the national averages at peer institutions, Gotterer said. Although underrepresented in numbers, he said women do see equal treatment in compensation and rate of advancement as members of the faculty. The school's goal, Gotterer said, is to attract more women to the institution.
The event concluded with small-group discussions among students and fellows, junior faculty and senior faculty regarding considerations in career choice, skills for professional growth, and recognizing and making the most of leadership opportunities.
The School of Medicine's next steps are to review and to prioritize suggestions made by the attendees, and to implement those that are likely to have the highest impact on faculty career development.