Highlights from the Presentation
Background
I think because of a bad experience I had in medical school, where the only woman professor on the faculty really had no time for me or the women who were nurses. I really felt that lack of having a mentor who was like me—in terms of being a woman—and there were no minority faculty at the medical school at that time.
So, when I got to Tufts and students started coming to me for advice, I didn't see how I could say no because I know how much I missed having someone I could talk to. And we all know that sometimes just having someone to talk to—they may not have the answers—but just being able to talk to someone can make a difference. So that really was my entry into a leadership role.
On Life at the NIH
One of the first things we did was to set up a workshop on women in biomedical careers. And to do that, I made another very smart decision. I invited two outstanding women to serve as chairs of our committee to bring about this workshop. One was Carola Eisenberg, who is a previous winner of the ADM Award, and Shirley Malcolm from AAAS. And the two of them put together that workshop and I think the report is still valuable today as it's still very much in tune with where we are today.
…looking back over those years and thinking how often we hear about the first woman or the first woman of color to get this position, or to hold that position or to move into something. But isn't it surprising? I mean, that was from 1963. This is now 2020. And isn't it still amazing that even today we hear about the first woman or the first person of color to move into certain positions or aspects of accomplishments in health administration, in medicine, science, or related careers? Something's wrong there.
Data on Women & Diversity in Medicine
…as of the current time, we know that more than half of all the applicants to medical school are women. So, we have certainly seen a big change over the past 20 years in the numbers of women who are pursuing careers in medicine, as well as other fields of science. But as you go along the continuum of careers and go to the other end, you'll see that only 18% of department chairs in academic medicine are women. And only 18% of medical school deans are women.
Why is it we see fewer of us? By us, I mean women in leadership positions in academic medicine. Well, many have said, this is due the pipeline, and I've heard so many people say that, well, you know, you can't expect as many women to be in leadership positions because they're late coming to medicine and we don't have as many. Well, I beg to differ. And I don't have to beg to differ; the data shows differently. We know that in fact, that there are many, many women and underrepresented minorities who could be in advanced leadership and decision-making positions because they are talented, and they are there, and they need to be found.
Factors Women Face
We need to make sure that women, underrepresented minorities, or others don't suffer imposter syndrome. And we see it. So often as women we think wonder, can I really do this? Am I as good as somebody else? That's being an imposter. You're there because you deserve to be there. So, take advantage of it; go do it. You know you can do it.
Women and Stereotypes
Let me give you one other example. I learned in my senior year of medical school, while I was doing a rotation at MGH, that I was going to be given an NIH research fellowship at the MGH in pathology. I’m very excited. It's the same day that I've just learned that I have an internship, and I'm going up the steps in the Warren building when down the steps comes a guy who's still a good friend. He's still around. I like him. He probably doesn't remember, but I don't forget that he met me on the steps. And he said, “I hear you’re gonna be with us in July. But you know, women don't become chairman of pathology departments.” Well, I'm a senior, I still haven't finished medical school. I've got to finish medical school, take my boards, do my internship. I hadn't even thought about becoming a chair, but obviously in his mind, he wanted me to know that stereotype, the history, that women didn't become chair.
Well, guess what? In 1982, I did become a pathology chair. There were two women before me, and now there are many women chairs of departments of pathology. But this [is an] example that I lived through of how stereotyping could have affected what I did. But I guess I've always been stubborn and moved ahead.
Mentoring
So, I really think role models, and mentors, and networking, and advice, and support systems are all so important, so important for us, especially as women or underrepresented minorities, as we try to pursue and move forward in our leadership roles.
Time for Action
We've got lots of committees. We've got lots of reports. It's time for action. To quote someone I admired greatly, Congressman John Lewis, “We all need to engage in a bit more good trouble.”
We need committed leadership, especially at the top level. If you don't have the commitment at the top, the faculty and staff are not going to follow. You've got to have dedicated resources, accountability, disaggregated data, and an intersectional approach. If we're gonna make these changes, we need to start by having honest discussions about bias, without a lot of anger and animosity.
