Two faculty members from Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine have been named fellows for the only program in North America dedicated to preparing women for senior leadership roles in academic health science institutions.
Karen Patricia Williams and Francesca Colecraft Dwamena were selected to join the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program at Drexel University’s College of Medicine. This is the 19th class of fellows for the program, which focuses on enhancing institutional leadership diversity while contributing to organizational strategy and innovation.
Dwamena is the acting chairperson of the college’s Department of Medicine, while Williams is an associate professor in the Department of Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology.
Upon completion of the one-year fellowship in May 2014, the 54 members of the class will join a community of highly accomplished leaders. More than 800 alumnae across the world serve in a variety of leadership positions including department chairs, research center directors, deans and college presidents as well as chief executives in health care and accrediting organizations.
Each fellow is supported by the dean or other senior official of her institution in her nomination and continued mentorship. One aspect of this relationship is the curricular requirement to conduct an Institutional Action Project, developed in collaboration with the senior leadership. These action projects are designed to address a strategic institutional priority.
The program was established in 1995 to carry on the legacy of advancing women in medicine begun by the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, the nation’s first women’s medical school and predecessor of today’s Drexel University College of Medicine.