the Solution
Retention and promotion of minority women, specifically Black women in senior leadership positions, is currently lacking. Black women are less likely to pursue or be promoted into these roles for many reasons such as lack of support, microaggressions, and lack of consideration for promotion. In the United States, Black women make up approximately 2% of physicians and 2% of academic medical faculty; representing a fraction of the population and a smaller proportion of those becoming doctors.
Several studies regarding the workplace environment have revealed that increasing workplace diversity is correlated with improved productivity which translates to improved patient outcomes.
Mentorship and sponsorship have been shown in academic medicine to be necessary for early career development, advancing one’s career, retention, and career satisfaction.