Growing together: reflections on Canada's first interdisciplinary women's health research training program

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Gender Studies
• Sociology of Science

Background:

• Historical biomedical research predominantly focused on male subjects, creating knowledge gaps in women's health.
• Systemic barriers like underfunding and researcher siloing hinder women's health research and academic progression.
• There's a critical need for innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to support women researchers and tackle gender inequities in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of the first cohort in the Girls' and Women's Health Research (GROWW) national training program.
• To identify key themes related to interdisciplinary collaboration, networking, and challenging academic structures.
• To assess the impact of the program on supporting the next generation of women researchers in health.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative autoethnography utilizing thematic analysis of reflective writing.
• Descriptive statistical analysis of cross-sectional survey data from program participants.
• Focus on students and early career researchers within an interdisciplinary training program.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: supporting interdisciplinary networking, fostering authentic connections and collaboration, challenging patriarchy in academia, and identifying lessons learned.
• The program successfully facilitated interdisciplinary networking and authentic relationship-building among participants.
• Participants gained insights into navigating and challenging patriarchal structures within academic settings.

Conclusions:

• Interdisciplinary research training programs are vital for developing skills needed to advance women's health research.
• Supporting women researchers and women's health research is critical in the current sociopolitical climate.
• Addressing gender inequities requires continued investment in specialized training and collaborative initiatives.