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women in medicine Feature by Al ice Patenaude World Class T 26 | WINT ER 2 011 here's a lot to celebrate about women's advance- ment in medicine. Today, women comprise almost half of medical students and are well represented as junior faculty members in academic positions. But for years, there has been a disparity in the proportion of men and women garnering the top spots as department heads or deans. At the University of Illinois, the unique perspective that women can bring to the executive suite is apparent—starting with the chancellor of the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Diversity is evident in our student body and extends to our faculty and all levels of administration and staff," says Paula Allen- Meares, chancellor. "UIC's commitment to diversity is critical to our mission of advancing access to excellence and success in academic programs, research and health care." The College of Medicine has taken this commitment to di- versity a step further, supporting seven women leaders to date in the professional opportunity of a lifetime—participation in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program. Sponsored by the Institute for Women's Health and Leader- ship at Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, ELAM is an exclusive national program, accepting 54 women per year from across the country for a yearlong experience in leadership training. The program is designed to increase the numbers of women faculty in senior leadership positions as executives and change agents in schools of medicine, dentistry and public health. Since ELAM was launched in 1995, nearly 700 women have participated in the intensive program, which is focused on strategic finance, organizational dynamics and leadership effectiveness, and LEADERS Seven women from the College of Medicine have been selected to join the prestigious Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program delivered through readings and reflection, interactive large- and small- group sessions and development of an institutional action project. ELAM provides networking and mentoring opportunities, giving women the tools—and contacts—they need to advance their careers. "Selection to become an ELAM Fellow is very competitive," says Diane Magrane, MD, program director. "We receive double the number of applicants to open positions. In making our admissions decisions, we look at both how the institution is able to support their ELAM Fellow as well as what her application reveals about her leadership experience." In sponsoring seven ELAM Fellows to date, the College of Medicine has supported the advancement of women leaders by providing time for professional development as well as mentoring opportunities and the chance to impact the institution through group projects completed as part of the ELAM program. The seven ELAM Fellows from the College of Medicine have included: n Sara Rusch, MD, professor and regional dean of the College of Medicine at Peoria; n Stacie Geller, PhD, professor and director of the UIC Center for Research on Women and Gender; n Karen Colley, PhD, professor and associate dean for graduate research and education; n Meenakshy Aiyer, MD, associate professor and interim associate dean for academic affairs for the College of Medicine at Peoria; n Geri Donenberg, PhD, professor and director of the Healthy Youths Program and the Community Outreach Intervention Projects; n Pauline Maki, PhD, associate professor and director of the Women's Mental Health Research Program; and n Sarah Kilpatrick, MD, PhD, recently departed vice dean for the College of Medicine, as well as professor and head of obstetrics and gynecology. PHOTO: LLOYD DEGRANE