This module examines persistent gender inequities in medicine and their impact on professional experience, career advancement, compensation, and well-being. These inequities are rooted less in individual behavior and more in workplace culture, evaluation practices, policies, and institutional structures. Participants will build the knowledge and tools to recognize inequities, interrupt bias, and advocate for sustainable change across medical training programs, healthcare systems, and academic institutions.
Describe the prevalence and impact of gender inequities in medicine and how bias shows up in the evaluation process of medical professionals.
Apply strategies to recognize and interrupt gender-biased language, behaviors, and evaluation practices across clinical, academic, and leadership settings.
Analyze the structural and cultural barriers to retention, promotion, leadership advancement, and equitable compensation for women physicians, including key drivers of the gender pay gap, and apply strategies that promote equitable career progression and transparent pay.
The following resources serve as the core materials for this module, ranging from scoping reviews to practical management guides:
Objective 1: Gender Inequity and Bias in Evaluation
Objective 2: Interrupting Gender Bias
Objective 3: Barriers and Strategies to Advancement
Designed for personal journaling or pre-meeting preparation.
Decoding Biased Feedback
Designed for RAFT meetings, subdivided by module objectives.
General Discussion Questions:
How do you respond when colleagues suggest that gender equity is no longer a pressing issue — for example, "Med school classes are now 50% women, so the problem is solved"?
Have you ever received feedback you later recognized as gender‑biased — about your confidence, communication style, or likability? How did you process it, and what would you have wanted instead?
How transparent is compensation in your practice or institution? What would it take to create more pay equity where you work, and what role could you play?
What gender equity initiatives exist in your institution? What would you want to start or strengthen? your institution? What would you want to start or strengthen?
Objective-Specific Discussion Questions