The primary aim of this module is to provide physicians and medical trainees with a structured, evidence-based framework for understanding and developing leadership within emergency medicine. This module focuses on the unique challenges women face in leadership, including systemic barriers, gender bias, and cultural expectations within medical environments. Participants will analyze how these factors impact leadership opportunities and translate this understanding into actionable strategies that enhance effectiveness, accelerate career advancement, and elevate future women leaders in emergency medicine.
Key Goals
Explore the multiple structural, cultural, and interpersonal factors contributing to the leadership gender gap in medicine, with a focus on emergency medicine.
Apply evidence-based strategies and access leadership resources to enhance individual leadership capability and effectiveness.
Recognize and navigate gender bias, including the double bind and leadership stereotypes.
Increase the representation of women in physician leadership roles by identifying pathways for advancement and development.
Promote mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship to support the advancement of women physicians and actively uplift others within the field.
This module is designed to shift the understanding of leadership from a title-based role to a set of skills and behaviors that can be developed throughout one’s career. Participants will examine how systemic factors, gender bias, and cultural expectations shape leadership opportunities and effectiveness in medicine, particularly within emergency medicine. Through engagement with current literature and real-world examples, participants will explore how women navigate leadership spaces and the barriers they encounter. By the end of this module, participants will be able to identify key leadership competencies, recognize gender-related challenges, and implement practical strategies to enhance their leadership development and support others.
Key Objectives:
Analyze Leadership Effectiveness: Identify the factors, traits, and behaviors that make women effective in leadership roles.
Examine Gender Bias: Evaluate how gender stereotypes contribute to the “glass ceiling” and impact leadership opportunities.
Apply Leadership Strategies: Utilize practical, evidence-based tactics to overcome gender gaps within organizations.
Develop Leadership Practice: Demonstrate leadership skills throughout one’s career, even prior to holding formal titles or positions.
Explore Leadership Value: Reflect on the personal and professional impact of leadership as a meaningful component of a career in medicine.
The following resources serve as the core materials for this module, ranging from scoping reviews to practical management guides:
Objective 1: Leadership Effectiveness
Objective 2: Gender Bias & the Glass Ceiling
Objective 3: Gendered Perceptions of Leadership
Objective 4: Strategies to Advance Women in Medicine and Leadership
Designed for personal journaling or pre-meeting preparation.
Baseline Assessment
Personal Impact & Professional Growth
Designed for RAFT meetings, subdivided by module objectives.
General Discussion Questions:
Do you consider yourself a leader where you are in medicine? Why or why not?
Women in leadership are often caught in the double bind, balancing confidence with the risk of being labeled as “bossy” or “too aggressive.” How have you seen or navigated this dilemma?
The stereotype of the typical leader has often been masculine. What qualities commonly associated with women leaders can be an advantage in medicine?
Objective-Specific Discussion Questions