Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026
Author Spotlight: Evaluating Clinicians' Adoption of Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation Through Simulation Training
Published on: August 9, 2024
Perceptions of skill development of participants in three national career development programs for women faculty in
Deborah L Helitzer1, Sharon L Newbill, Page S Morahan
1Dr. Helitzer is professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, and associate vice chancellor for research education, Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Newbill is research professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Morahan is professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and founding director, Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and codirector, Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Magrane is professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and executive director, International Center for Executive Leadership in Academics (ICELA at Drexel), Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ms. Cardinali is senior program manager, Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Wu was, at the time of writing, assistant professor, Department of Epidemiology, Division of Office of the Vice President, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Dr. Chang is professor and director, Cancer Prevention Research Training Program, Department of Epidemiology, Division of Office of the Vice President, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Purpose:
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and Drexel University College of Medicine have designed and implemented national career development programs (CDPs) to help women faculty acquire and strengthen skills needed for success in academic medicine. The authors hypothesized that skills women acquired in CDPs would vary by career stage and program attended.
Method:
In 2011, the authors surveyed a national cohort of 2,779 women listed in the AAMC Faculty Roster who also attended one of three CDPs (Early- and Mid-Career Women in Medicine Seminars, and/or Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine) between 1988 and 2010 to examine their characteristics and CDP experiences. Participants indicated from a list of 16 skills whether each skill was newly acquired, improved, or not improved as a result of their program participation.
Results:
Of 2,537 eligible CDP women, 942 clicked on the link in an invitation e-mail, and 879 (93%) completed the survey. Respondents were representative of women faculty in academic medicine. Participants rated the CDPs highly. Almost all reported gaining and/or improving skills from the CDP. Four skills predominated across all three programs: interpersonal skills, leadership, negotiation, and networking. The skills that attendees endorsed differed by respondents' career stages, more so than by program attended.
Conclusions:
Women participants perceived varying skills gained or improved from their attendance at the CDPs. Determining ways in which CDPs can support women's advancement in academic medicine requires a deeper understanding of what participants seek from CDPs and how they use program content to advance their careers.
