Fix Your Leaky Pipeline: Support Women in Pursuit of Advanced Degrees

Med Sci Educ. 2021 Jan 13;31(2):795-804. doi: 10.1007/s40670-020-01184-9. eCollection 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Completing a doctoral program is a daunting journey for any individual. Working full-time and juggling personal demands make the journey more complex. This monograph explores the unique motivations women who travel this path possess, identifies barriers in completion of a doctoral program for women, and tells the story of one group of women who developed a working model for a supportive writing group. As numbers of female health professions students and education leaders increase, institutions must identify mechanisms for support of women interested in pursuing an academic doctoral degree, preparing academic institutions for future diversity changes in health care.

Keywords: Doctoral studies; Gender; Women; Writing group.