The Forum for Women in Medicine (FWIM) celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, marking ten years of progress, empowerment, and camaraderie among its members.
Founded in 2014, FWIM was established with a clear mission: to support the professional and personal development of women trainees in the Department of Medicine. Over the past ten years, we have dedicated ourselves to this mission, creating a robust platform for women to thrive in their medical training.
FWIM has been more than just an initiative; it has been a catalyst for growth. Through our skill-building workshops, professional development lectures, and networking events, we have provided women trainees with the essential skill sets needed for professional growth. These events have not only equipped participants with the tools to navigate the complexities of being a woman in medicine but also fostered a sense of community and support that is crucial for success both professionally and personally.
“FWIM has been a pivotal program for my career development. I became a member as a postdoctoral scholar >7 years ago. As a basic researcher, I was able to network with many amazing clinical researchers and educators. These interactions helped in thinking about the clinical applicability of my research.”
“I also met many amazing leaders in DOM! This led me to expand my passion in DEI work by meeting others who also wanted to see systemic changes in academia. Being part of such a welcoming environment and learning from current leaders motivated to also become a leader myself.“
– Jessica M. Silva-Fisher, PhD (faculty perspective)
Over the years, we have been sensitive to the needs of the trainees, adding various components to best support them. In 2018, we added the Fellows Outreach Subcommittee, which was focused on engaging the fellows from across the many fellowship programs in our department. In 2020, the DOM Moms & Caregivers group was created to best support our faculty and trainees with caregiving responsibilities through social events, educational programming, and advocacy work. Most recently, in 2022 we added a longitudinal leadership development program tailored specifically for women, addressing the unique challenges they face in medicine. Not only does the cohort benefit from learning from many impactful leaders on campus, but they are also paired with a program mentor.
“I found the workshops and lectures to be extremely beneficial for my career development. I enjoyed learning from and hearing the experiences of women who are currently leaders within their chosen field. It highlighted the steps and hurdles we may face while also giving us tangible skills in order to reach our goals. I also thoroughly enjoyed getting to interact with women from my program as well as other programs and years in training. I liked how we got to share experiences and learn and grow from each other. The lectures provided a safe environment through which to discuss difficult topics and get mentorship and leadership skills.”
“Being a part of the FWIM program has provided me with valuable skills to help me advance in my future career. I have learned how to find a mentor, negotiation skills, and how to be a better and more successful leader. I have found mentors in my future field as well as outside of my specialty that I can reach out to with any questions or concerns. This will be invaluable to me as I pursue fellowship and an academic career.”
– Amanda Golden, MD (resident perspective)
The impact of FWIM has been significant. Attendance has been steady over the years, demonstrating a desire for these types of events, and feedback of the events has consistently been positive. The percent of women interns in the incoming internal medicine residency class was 23% in 2014 with that number more than doubling to 48% of our incoming interns identifying as women in 2024. In 2020, given the success of FWIM’s impact on the women in the department of medicine, it was determined that a separate initiative focused on advancing the careers of women faculty was needed. That led to the creation of the Advancing Women in Academic Medicine (AWAM) group.
“The FWIM-sponsored lectures and leadership program have not only taught me so much about what it means to be a leader in medicine, finding my leadership style, and achieving work-life integration, but also given me access to a vibrant, supportive community of female physicians.”
“Because of my involvement in FWIM, I am a more confident leader, a more balanced person at home and work, and I have a huge, easily accessible network of female mentors, colleagues, sponsors, and friends.”
– Emily Podany, MD (fellow perspective)
Creating mentorship opportunities and space for open dialogue has enabled us to cultivate an academic culture that empowers women, allowing them to become leaders and innovators. After 10 years under the leadership of Dr. Rakhee Bhayani, now the Vice Chair for Advancing Women’s Careers and director of AWAM, FWIM is fortunate to have Dr. Namrata Patel take the director role to bring her commitment, enthusiasm, and ideas to take FWIM into its next decade.
“As we look to the future, we remain committed to our mission, knowing that the work we do today will continue to impact generations of women trainees. Here’s to the next decade of growth, empowerment, and success for women in medicine“
Rakhee Bhayani, MD
FWIM Happy Hour Networking Event
This event kicked off our academic year by providing an opportunity for the interns to meet and greet fellow residents and faculty at Dr. Fraser’s House. Ice breakers included playing trivia!
