Women in emergency medicine

In May, Dr. Unsa Shafi, one of our new chief residents, presented the results of a research study related to gender disparities at SAEM. The project, titled “Effects of Sponsorship, Mentorship, and Networking on Career Outcomes for Men and Women in Academic Emergency Medicine,” was a pilot study conducted by Drs. Risa Moriarity, Erin Dehon, and Shafi. Funded by an award from SAEM and the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM), they collected survey data from academic emergency medicine physicians across the country – from 2021 to 2022 – and analyzed it to determine whether these behaviors had an impact on specific outcomes. Dr. Shafi looked like a seasoned pro at the podium and is already brainstorming expansion of the project.

Last month, after a two-year hiatus, we hosted our annual Q & A breakfast for women medical students. A record number of students, including M2s, M3s, and M4s, showed up bright and early for coffee and Chick-fil-A cuisine. We even had a sleepy baby in attendance this year! Several members of the WEM Group, both residents and faculty, joined the students to answer questions about everything from letters of recommendation and away rotations to gender discrimination and having children during residency. Shout out to Drs. Victoria Ross and Janna Williams, the outgoing and incoming WEM Group resident chairs, for fielding lots of those questions. We can’t wait to see all of these students in our department very soon!