Workshop: Shattering Glass Ceilings - Lombardy/Umbria

le 7 juin 2024 from 8h00 CDT to 9h00 CDT

Shattering Glass Ceilings: Navigating Leadership as a Woman in Medical Physics

Moderators:Dr. Heather YoungMorgan Maher

Speakers: Dr. Andrea McNivenDr. Kathleen SurryDr. Young Lee-Bartlet

Panelists: Dr. Carri-Glide Hurst

Abstract:Women remain underrepresented in the medical physics field. While women make up 29% of COMP’s membership, it has been demonstrated that there are comparatively fewer women in leadership roles. The 2021 COMP EDI Climate Survey reports that fewer women (58%) reported having professional and leadership opportunities available to them in the workplace compared to men (70%). The presence of women in leadership positions leads to more diverse and equitable workplaces, ideas, and initiatives which is, in turn, linked to increased innovation, more accurate problem solving, and higher scientific productivity. Furthermore, representation positively influences women trainees looking to enter the field. By not focusing concerted effort on retaining and promoting women into positions of leadership, Canadian medical physics may be reducing the impact of vital contributors to our field and on opportunities for scientific advancement and discovery. In this session, we will provide information on the current landscape of women in clinical medical physics in Canada. This information will then be contextualized through an exploration of the various potential reasons for the lack of women in leadership roles in addition to an examination of the unique challenges faced by women who are seeking leadership opportunities. Finally, the many and multifaceted benefits of increasing the number of women in leadership roles within the medical physics community will be highlighted. By broadening leadership to be demographically diverse we allow the field to excel and reach new horizons in terms of patient care, scientific research, and education. Learning Objectives:

Understand the current status of the representation of women in leadership roles.
Explore the unique challenges faced by women when securing and working in leadership roles.
Outline the benefits of increasing representation of women in leadership roles.