The first northwest operating unit Women’s Emergency Medicine Leadership forum took place Nov. 7 in Parsippany, New Jersey. Event coordinator Lynn Reyman, M.D., Chair of Practice Affairs Committee for Envision Physician Services, said the event focused on teaching women to network, increasing their visibility and staying bold in their career paths.

“We discussed the various paths to success, and a big focus was on networking,” Dr. Reyman said. “I asked attendees whether they felt comfortable approaching their hospital’s CEO for a casual conversation, and many women said they’re scared to do this or don’t know what to say.”

Part II of the leadership forum, called “Connect 2,” will provide an opportunity for hands-on learning. Attendees will participate in role-play workshops with other clinicians to practice skills like having conversations with CEOs and other leaders and speaking up in the workplace.

“It’s valuable for clinicians to practice their communication skills, just like any other skills they use in the workplace. We will place them in different scenarios, and they’ll have to navigate through it,” Dr. Reyman said. “Eventually, we are going to take these leadership forums and interactive workshops into every service line.”

Dr. Reyman issued a challenge for the women clinicians who attended the forum: each year, do one new thing to further your career to prevent burnout and encourage engagement. She suggested going to a new meeting, a conference, or joining a local facility committee group. 

“Visibility is so important – people knowing you,” Dr. Reyman said. “Get out there, go to meetings, and start meeting new people to get a new perspective and a more global view. This can help clinicians find new pathways to solving challenges they’re encountering individually.”

Speakers at the leadership forum urged attendees to be bold in their careers and not to be afraid of failure. Dr. Reyman noted that most successful leaders have experienced failure in their careers, but it helped them grow stronger and more resilient.

“It’s not how you fail, but how you deal with that failure,” Dr. Reyman said. “Own it, understand it, and get past it. Don’t be so afraid to fail, and if you do, keep moving.”

“Connect 2” will take place February 27 in Parsippany, New Jersey. For more information about the forums and how to get involved in future sessions, contact Dr. Reyman at [email protected].