title: Perceptions of skill development of participants in three national career development programs for women faculty in academic medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and Drexel University College of Medicine have designed and implemented national career development programs (CDPs) to help women faculty acquire and strengthen skills needed for success in academic medicine. The authors hypothesized that skills women acquired in CDPs would vary by career stage and program attended.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2011, the authors surveyed a national cohort of 2,779 women listed in the AAMC Faculty Roster who also attended one of three CDPs (Early- and Mid-Career Women in Medicine Seminars, and/or Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine) between 1988 and 2010 to examine their characteristics and CDP experiences. Participants indicated from a list of 16 skills whether each skill was newly acquired, improved, or not improved as a result of their program participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2,537 eligible CDP women, 942 clicked on the link in an invitation e-mail, and 879 (93%) completed the survey. Respondents were representative of women faculty in academic medicine. Participants rated the CDPs highly. Almost all reported gaining and/or improving skills from the CDP. Four skills predominated across all three programs: interpersonal skills, leadership, negotiation, and networking. The skills that attendees endorsed differed by respondents' career stages, more so than by program attended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women participants perceived varying skills gained or improved from their attendance at the CDPs. Determining ways in which CDPs can support women's advancement in academic medicine requires a deeper understanding of what participants seek from CDPs and how they use program content to advance their careers.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Helitzer is professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, and associate vice chancellor for research education, Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Newbill is research professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Morahan is professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and founding director, Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and codirector, Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Magrane is professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and executive director, International Center for Executive Leadership in Academics (ICELA at Drexel), Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ms. Cardinali is senior program manager, Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Wu was, at the time of writing, assistant professor, Department of Epidemiology, Division of Office of the Vice President, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Dr. Chang is professor and director, Cancer Prevention Research Training Program, Department of Epidemiology, Division of Office of the Vice President, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Helitzer
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Newbill
authors.forename: Page S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Morahan
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Magrane
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardinali
authors.forename: Chih-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D003625:Data Collection; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010822:Physicians, Women; D011361:Professional Competence; D060756:Social Networking; D013192:Staff Development; D014481:United States