Society for women in academic psychiatry: a peer mentoring approach.
OBJECTIVE
Despite an increasing presence of women in medicine, the percentage of women in academic psychiatry remains low. At the University of California, Davis, women represent two-thirds of psychiatry residents; however, the percentage of female faculty is one-third. This article presents a novel approach to the academic gender gap problem.


METHODS
The Society for Women in Academic Psychiatry (S.W.A.P.) is a peer mentoring group founded by junior women faculty.


RESULTS
S.W.A.P. results to date include educational products, departmental demographic changes, and climate improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Although results are encouraging, more effort is needed to achieve a true culture change.
Seritan
Andreea L
AL
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Davis, 2230 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. andreea.seritan@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Bhangoo
Robinder
R
Garma
Sylvia
S
Dubé
Jane
J
Park
Ju Hui
JH
Hales
Robert
R
D002140:California; D003142:Communication; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010379:Peer Group; D010822:Physicians, Women; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012955:Societies, Medical