Women Leaders in Medicine
Does it really matter if more women are promoted into positions of leadership in healthcare today?
The short answer is a resounding YES, with a few key reasons why listed below…
Reason #1: Innovation and Creativity
Reason #2: Representation and Diversity
Reason #3: Enhanced Collaboration and Communication
Reason #4: Addressing Gender Disparities in Healthcare
Reason #5: Role Modeling
Reason #6: Better Patient Care
As you scroll down for the full details, listen to the powerful podcasts with eight strong women clinician leaders, as they candidly reveal their secrets to success.
Thus, there’s never been a more important time to support women clinicians in their professional and personal goals.
Reason #1 of 6: Innovation and Creativity: Diverse leadership teams, including those with significant female representation, tend to be more innovative and creative in problem-solving. Women leaders bring different perspectives and approaches to challenges in medicine, leading to the development of unique strategies and solutions that benefit patients and healthcare systems.
Listen to podcast with Dr. Malissa Wood, Lee Health, Heart Institute, Vice President and Chief Physician Executive:
“ Vision: Looking Back and Looking Ahead”
Listen to podcast with Dr. Toniya Singh, St. Louis Heart and Vascular:
“ Navigating the Informal Hierarchy of your Practice”
Reason #2 of 6: Representation and Diversity: Women make up a significant portion of the healthcare workforce, yet historically, leadership positions in medicine have been predominantly occupied by men. Having women leaders helps ensure that the perspectives and experiences of female healthcare professionals are represented in decision-making processes, leading to more inclusive and diverse approaches to healthcare delivery and policy.
Listen to podcast with Dr. Irene Macyk, PhD, RN, Executive Director, Southside Hospital, Northwell:
“Re-imagining Rejuvenation and Recovery”
Listen to podcast with an expert panel of physician leaders:
“The Rising Tide: Physician Women in Leadership”
Listen to podcast with US Navy Captain and Chief Nurse Executive, Virginia Beeson:
“To Speak Up or Not to Speak Up”
Reason #3 of 6: Enhanced Collaboration and Communication: Women leaders often bring unique communication and collaboration skills to leadership roles, fostering environments that prioritize teamwork, empathy, and consensus-building. These qualities can contribute to more effective interdisciplinary collaborations and improved patient care outcomes.
Photo: James McKenna and Dr. Mahi Ashwath, Cardiology Leader, Reuben Jacobs Chair in Internal Medicine, Imaging Director, UT Health, San Antonio. Speaking about “The Agile Leader” at ACC.
Photo: James McKenna and Dr. Katie Berlacher, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief of Education in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Pittsburgh; Director of the UPMC Magee-Womens Heart Program; Program Director of Cardiology Fellowship Program at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.
Reason #4 of 6: Addressing Gender Disparities in Healthcare: Women leaders are often more attuned to issues related to gender disparities in healthcare, such as differences in treatment outcomes, access to care, and research funding. Their leadership can help highlight these disparities and advocate for solutions to address them, ultimately improving healthcare equity for all individuals.
Photo: The Mid-Atlantic Women in Cardiology (WIC) Conference. Washington, DC
Reason #5 of 6: Role Modeling: Women leaders in medicine serve as role models for aspiring female healthcare professionals. Their visibility and success inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in medicine and leadership roles, thereby contributing to the overall advancement and empowerment of women in healthcare.
Photo: Rockville Gynecology Team Retreat
Reason #6 of 6: Better Patient Care: Research suggests that hospitals and healthcare organizations with greater gender diversity in leadership positions tend to provide higher-quality patient care and achieve better financial performance. Women leaders often prioritize patient-centered care and are more likely to address issues such as patient satisfaction, safety, and quality improvement.
Overall, having women leaders in medicine is essential for fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and effective healthcare system that meets the diverse needs of patients and healthcare professionals alike.
Summary
When patients are hospitalized, they want qualified medical professionals treating them but does it matter if your doctor is a man or a woman? Studies show that, for example, patients cared for by female physicians had lower in-hospital death rates than those who had male doctors[1].
In addition, women physicians have higher rates of burnout, lower rates of professional fulfillment, and higher rates of depression. Why? According to some studies, women spend more time per patient[2], being deliberate about doing what’s right for each patient.
Photo: From left: Mr. James McKenna, Dr. Annabelle Volgman, Dr. Daniel Piniero
Why else might women physicians be more burned out? Staff and patients tend to ask women physicians for assistance more often. As a result, female physicians spend more time working in their EHR in-baskets [3].
For these reasons and the 6 main points listed above, I offer women physicians opportunities to strengthen their professional support system and skills through professional development: 1v1 coaching and/or team coaching. These interventions supplement their mentoring and training programs. I provide them a training ground for developing leadership skills and understanding leadership within their teams, as they define success for themselves.
All along the way, we mutually check-in to ensure that our path is moving in the right direction. We’ll be mindful that you are whole, well and able to continue doing your best work and show up as your best self, to those important people around you.
To see what dozens of happy clients have said about our work together, scroll down for more details from local, regional, national and international women leaders. Contact me and we’ll discuss what success looks like for you and/or your team, this year and beyond.
[1] Source: USNews. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-07-19/do-women-or-men-make-the-best-doctors By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter.
[2] Source: Harvard Business Review. Why so many women physicians are quitting. Jan. 2022. by Jessica Dudley, Sarah McLaughlin, and Thomas H. Lee.
[3] Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34993875/
Photo: Women in Leadership discuss, “The Agile Leader”. From left: Dr. Nandita Scott, Mr. James McKenna, Dr. Melinda Davis, TBD, Dr. Toniya Singh, Dr. Retu Saxena, Dr. Anuradha Tunuguntla, TBD, Dr. Mahi Ashwath.
“Jim helped me understand my leadership style, and with that, my strengths and weaknesses. I also learned to develop strategies to confront and succeed in conflict. Jim helped me develop in the different roles of my life, and in creating balance. He assisted me in developing and implementing a sustainable strategy to thrive, not just survive. The skills I learned from working with Jim will serve me well for the rest of my career. I am eternally grateful! “
Dr. Carolynn Young
Gynocologist at Rockville Gynocology
“Jim McKenna was a ‘chance twitter find’ but worth more than his weight in gold! Faced with multi-faceted intersectionality at work I sought Jim out and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I warmed up to him and trusted his insights as well as his thoughtful observations and non-judgmental critiques of our sessions. Jim has helped me cultivate and refine my leadership and communication style which has been extremely helpful . While I wish I had signed up for leadership coaching sooner however I truly believe the right coach is important and if you happen to come across this testimonial you won’t be making a mistake in signing up with him. “
Aarthi Sabanayagam MBBS, MD , FACC
Assistant Professor, UCSF (Univ. California San Francisco) Cardiology, Department of Medicine,
Co-Director of the Cardio-Obstetrics Program; formerly Cardiologist , The Ohio State University
Huge thanks to everyone who has & continues to support & encourage me on this incredible journey. Especially my leadership coach @JLMcKenna13 #UncomfortableGrowth
Dr. Nasrien Ibrahim
Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist | Commonwealth Fund Fellow in Minority Health Policy | Nonprofit Founder.
Formerly Director of Heart Failure Clinical Research Program, Director of Heart Failure & Transplant Fellowship at Inova Heart, Virginia.
We all have skills that are under-appreciated and others can learn from. An important lesson learnt in the BCS Emerging Leaders Programme. Special thanks to @JLMcKenna13 for his coaching and to @BritishCardioSo @DrSarahClarke @BcsPresident
for setting up this excellent programme.
Dr. Shazia T. Hussein
Interventional Cardiologist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
I cannot say enough great things about working with Jim. I never thought I needed a #leadership/#careercoach until #TheBestMentorEver @JJHeart_doc (Dr. James Januzzi) paid for me to work with @JLMcKenna13 to improve my career path. Thank you!!
Dr. Hanna Gaggin
Harvard Medical School
Massachusetts General Hospital
I had the great opportunity to work with Jim through the Irish Cardiology Society. He provided excellent career and leadership coaching to several Specialist Registrars through webinars and workshops. He taught me how to reflect on my own stressors and develop resilience strategies in order to prevent burn out. He has a great way of making you feel relaxed, is a great listener and communicator. Jim taught us to look after ourselves and inspired us to strive for healthy, happy and successful careers.
Vivienne Sullivan
Cardiology Specialty Registrar
Wexford, Leinster, Ireland
“Ho avuto la possibilità di incontrare James durante il mio percorso professionale, e non soltanto si è rivelata un’esperienza preziosa per il mio lavoro da cardiologa, ma anche per la mia crescita personale.
James mi ha aiutato a capire come meglio relazionarmi con i miei pari e con i miei superiori, cercando di esaltare le mie doti positive e fare dei miei punti deboli dei punti di forza.
Durante i nostri incontri James mi ha conosciuto e valorizzato come donna cardiologa ambiziosa e tenace, come mamma premurosa e amorevole e come donna che ha tanti sogni e progetti che hanno giovato dei suoi suggerimenti e orientamenti per vedere una più concreta realizzazione.
In Italia non è ancora molto sviluppato il concetto di leadership coaching, ma io lo raccomando a tutti i miei colleghi, e in particolare alle donne in carriera, per rendere ancora più preziosa, speciale e vincente la crescita personale e professionale. ”
Dr. Emilia D’Elia, Cardiologist, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.
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I had the opportunity to meet James during my professional career, and not only has he proved to be a valuable experience for my work as a cardiologist, but also for my personal growth.
James helped me understand how best to relate to my peers and superiors, trying to enhance my positive qualities and convert my weak points into strengths.
During our meetings James met and valued me as an ambitious and tenacious female cardiologist, as a caring and loving mother and as a woman who has dreams and projects that have benefited from his suggestions to see more concrete achievement.
In Italy the concept of leadership coaching is not yet very developed, but I recommend it to all my colleagues, and in particular to career women, to make personal and professional growth even more precise, impactful and valuable.
Dr. Emilia D’Elia, Cardiologist, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.
Dr. Toniya Singh, Dr. Mahi Ashwath and Dr. Kamala Tamirisa
Dr. Elisa Bradley, Director, Cardiology, Penn State
Dr. Mindy Kantsiper, Johns Hopkins, and Dr. Flora Kisuule, Johns Hopkins and SHM President
Dr. Anu Lala and Dr. Anju Bhardwaj
Left to Right: Prof. Crowley (President, Irish Cardiac Society), James McKenna, Vivienne Sullivan, SpR; DiarmaidHughes, SpR; Barbra Dalton, Executive Administrator at Irish Cardiac Society / Irish Board for Training in Cardiovascular Medicine; Laura Murphy, SpR.
It has been a pleasure to work with James over the past twelve months developing a wellbeing and resilience programmefor cardiology trainees in Ireland. James’s knowledge and insights on these topics coupled with his inclusive approach, facilitated the trainee group as they explored, developed and implemented a programmedriven by needs identified by themselves. His ability to guide both group and one to one sessions is very impressive and the Irish cardiology trainee group have benefited greatly from working with James and having exposure to his expertise. Barbra Dalton, Executive Administrator, Irish Board for Training in Cardiovascular Medicine.
Barbra Dalton (Green)
Executive Administrator at Irish Cardiac Society / Irish Board for Training
in Cardiovascular Medicine
What Colleagues are Tweeting
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