Development and implementation of the Women Leaders in Medicine Program at a multispecialty health care system

Dawn Sears; Bobbie Ann Adair White; Michael Dewsnap; Hania Janek

doi:10.1080/08998280.2019.1646591

Development and implementation of the Women Leaders in Medicine Program at a multispecialty health care system

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2019 Aug 12;32(4):477-480. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2019.1646591. eCollection 2019 Oct.

Authors

Dawn Sears¹, Bobbie Ann Adair White², Michael Dewsnap², Hania Janek^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-TempleTempleTexas.
² Department of Humanities in Medicine, Texas A&M University College of MedicineBryanTexas.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-TempleTempleTexas.
⁴ Education, Baylor Scott & White HealthTempleTexas.

Abstract

Physicians in the USA are experiencing burnout symptoms at alarming rates, with women surpassing men. Many modalities are used to combat burnout. Leadership training is one proven strategy. Baylor Scott & White Health developed a program of systematic leadership development with quantitative and qualitative surveys and feedback from the 200 female participants of the pilot year. The Women Leaders in Medicine Program invited all Baylor Scott & White Health female physicians in both Central and North Texas to leadership training, which focused on (1) peer networking, (2) leadership skill building, and (3) mentoring, advocacy, and sponsorship with system leaders. The program was well received and highlighted the need for more in-person networking and skill-building opportunities for this demographic. Based on the data collected, the investigators are confident that this program is feasible for replication in diverse clinical settings for all female physicians.

Keywords: Burnout; female physicians; leadership.

Grants and funding

The Women Leadership in Medicine (WLiM) pilot was funded internally by the Baylor Scott & White board of directors. Thereafter, WLiM received funding from The Physicians Foundation (Grant No. 3262215) to study the impact of the program on female physicians’ burnout and well-being.