This mentoring program for UAMS grew out of
awareness that women faculty were not advancing to positions of leadership in
the
Dr. Debra H. Fiser, Dean,
UAMS College of Medicine
and founding member of the Women's Caucus.
institution. In 1989, Dr. Debra Fiser, now Dean of UAMS College of Medicine
and Dr. Teresita Angtuaco recruited other women faculty to organize a women's
caucus with a mission "to inspire, encourage, and enable women physicians and
scientist to realize their professional and personal goals." The Women's Faculty
Development Caucus addresses the disparity between the growing numbers of women
in medicine and the lack of women in leadership positions within academic
medicine. Our professional development efforts have resulted in an expanding
organization that is addressing the needs of all College of Medicine
faculty members. We provide leadership training, mentoring/advising, and
networking opportunities. All women faculty are members who receive regular
notices of meetings, mentoring/advising, networking opportunities, and
publications. Since launching
its formal mentoring program in 1996, the caucus has matched more than 80 junior
women faculty members with mentors. In 1997, the Association of American Medical
Colleges (AAMC) awarded the organization the first ever
Women in Medicine
Leadership Award in recognition of its professional development activities. If
you are a junior faculty member in need of a career planning mentor, contact
Glenda J. Cooper.