Where’s the boardroom?
A recent study found that the percentage of women on the boards of the 1,000 largest public companies in America is a little more than 28%, even though research shows that S&P 500 companies headquartered in California with 30% or more women on their boards had 29% higher revenue.
We’re working to develop opportunities for women to be in leadership positions, within our practices and on the national stage in terms of representation, within our national GI societies. It’s very exciting that we have women in leadership within AGA and ASGE, and that Dr. Latha Alaparthi has made increasing the focus on leadership and pipeline development one of her main priorities as the president and board chair of the Digestive Health Physicians Association (DHPA).
Another way private practices can support women who are leaders is by making recommendations for committees within our national societies and by recognizing that time spent developing presentations and speaking at national conferences is beneficial to the practice in terms of thought leadership, branding, and recruitment of the next generation of practice leaders.
While we have a long way to go, we’re also making strides in the board room at the practice level. I’m the first woman, and notably a woman of color, to join the Gastro Health board of directors under the guidance of support of CEO Joseph Garcia. Dr. Aja McCutchen, who serves as the chair of the DHPA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, is similarly the first woman and woman of color on the board of directors for United Digestive in Atlanta.
What to look for in joining a practice
When determining which practice you might join, ask how committed the leadership of the organization is to supporting career development for women. Does the practice have a network, a committee or other internal group that supports female physicians? What steps does the practice leadership take to support women who are interested in executive opportunities?
If the practice does have an internal organization, how does it measure progress? For example, we’ve implemented focus groups to measure what is working and where we face the most challenges. Gastro Health partnered with a consultant to hold three confidential sessions with 10 women at a time. This will allow for us to collect depersonalized data that can be compiled into a report for the Gastro Health Board and leadership.
If you’re a woman who is considering a career in independent GI, seek out women in private practice and ask about their experiences. Ask about their path and what opportunities they sought out when starting their careers. They may know of some great opportunities that are available to build your leadership skills.
By creating a network for women, Gastro Health is hoping to make it easier to develop relationships and create productive partnerships. We are certain that working to address the specific challenges that female physicians face in their careers will strengthen our group, and ultimately independent gastroenterology overall.
Dr. Adams is a practicing gastroenterologist and partner at Gastro Health Fairfax in Virginia and serves on the Digestive Health Physicians Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Dr. Adams has no conflicts to declare.
