Ever since Elizabeth Blackwell became the first American woman to gain admission to medical school over 150 years ago, women have made great advances within the medical profession. By overcoming traditional barriers to take their place within the profession of medicine, they have become a strong and vital force, achieving a level of prominence that was unimaginable in the 19th century.
The Lewis Katz School of Medicine's Committee on the Status of Women Faculty coordinates and sponsors activities and programs that continue to foster the professional development of women faculty. Our mission is to ensure that the rising numbers of women in medicine continue to increase and women continue to succeed in the profession of medicine. To achieve our goal, we:
Provide liaison with the medical school administration to ensure policies and procedures advance equity at LKSOM.
Sponsor faculty development through workshops and seminars to promote leadership at LKSOM (and beyond) that better reflects the diverse fields of science and medicine.
Promote mentoring and networking among women faculty of all levels and across basic science and clinical areas to create community and connection.
Increase visibility for women clinicians and basic science faculty by promoting on social media, nominating for awards and leadership training programs and other recognition to advance their careers in medicine and science.
Promote advocacy, awareness, and education around issues that impact women faculty, while recognizing intersectionality. This includes demonstration of solidarity with groups that have been marginalized within medicine and science.
We carry on in the spirit of Dr. Marie Mergler, a pioneering woman abdominal surgeon and gynecologist at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, who in 1896 wrote:
"No woman studying medicine today will ever know how much it has cost the individuals personally concerned in bringing about these changes; how eagerly they have watched new developments and mourned each defeat and rejoiced with each success. For with them it meant much more than success or failure for the individual, it meant the failure or success of a grand cause."
Members
The Committee on the Status of Women Faculty's primary function is to sponsor activities and programs promoting the professional development of women faculty.
The Committee meets regularly on the second Thursday of every month from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For further information, please contact Jamie Garfield, MD.
Faculty are welcome to contact any of the below committee members with questions or issues concerning women in medicine and science.
Ellen Unterwald, PhD, Department of Neural Sciences, Center for Substance Abuse Research
Conchi Estarás, PhD, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences
Sumita Bhambhani, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
Kelly Whelan, PhD, Department of Cancer and Cellular Biology
Neena Mohan, MD, Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology
Jamie Garfield, MD, Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery (Chair)
Nicolle Strand, Department of Urban Health and Population Science
Stephanie Daws, PhD, Department of Neural Sciences, Center for Substance Abuse Research
Anjali Vaidya, MD, FACC, FASE, FACP, Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology
News & Events
Events
Fall Meet and Greet Networking Event
Spring Faculty Development Workshop
Mentoring Awards
News
Resources
Publications and Useful Links
Following are web sites with useful information about women faculty in medicine:
Following is a list of recommended reading related to women in medicine. This list was compiled by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC):