Established in 1992, the Women in Medicine & Science Faculty Organization seeks to advance the professional goals of women physicians and scientists at the VCU. The Organization began the Pathways to Leadership Conference in 1992 to nurture and develop leaders among women in biomedical sciences and received the Women in Medicine Leadership Development Award in 2000 from the Association of American Medical Colleges. The Organization has recently been expanded and the name changed to the Women In Science, Dentistry, and Medicine (WISDM) Faculty Organization.

In 1995, the Dean of the School of Medicine established the Committee on the Status of Women and Minorities, which monitors the progress of women and minorities in the achievement of their full potential. This standing committee serves as a resource to the Dean’s office with regard to issues of recruitment and retention, promotion and tenure, committee representation and School of Medicine policies and procedures. This year, COSOWAM is adding a cohort study to the annual benchmarking tracking representation of women and minorities in departments and leadership positions in the School of Medicine. The study will track faculty members who were appointed in FY 1997and FY 1998 and their career advancement over 10 years.

In addition, representatives from COSOWAM are working with the VCU Equity and Diversity Committee and the newly appointed Special Assistant to the Provost for Promoting Diversity.

Mentoring relationships have proven to be an excellent way to enhance professional growth. With this in mind, the VCU School of Medicine, offers this Faculty Mentoring Guide. This guide has become the model used at more than 50 academic medical centers throughout the US and Canada.

WISDM's 16th Annual Pathways to Leadership Conference - March 21, 2008

Director of Leadership:
Carol Hampton, MMS, Associate Dean for Faculty and Instructional Development
Office of Faculty Affairs
School of Medicine