Women’s Health and Women’s Leadership in Academic Medicine: Hitting the Same Glass Ceiling?

This paper discusses (1) the historical linking of the advances in women's health with women's leadership in academic medicine, (2) the slow progress of women into leadership in academic medicine, and (3) indicators that the advancement of women's health has stalled. The case is made that deeply embedded unconscious gender-based biases and assumptions underpin the stalled advancement of women on both fronts. The study offers recommendations to promote progress beyond the apparent glass ceiling that is preventing further advancement of women's health and women leaders, emphasizing the need to move beyond “fixing the women” to a systemic, institutional approach that acknowledges and addresses the impact of unconscious, gender-linked biases that devalue and marginalize women and issues associated with women, such as their health.