Drexel University College of Medicine Names New Class of Fellows to Its National Leadership Program; Class Selected from Among Academic Health's Most Promising Women Leaders.

Business Editors/Education Writers

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 2004

Forty-five senior women faculty from medical and dental schools in the U.S. and Canada have been selected as 2004-2005 Fellows by the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women. ELAM is the only in-depth national program that prepares senior women faculty for leadership positions at academic health centers (AHCs). The 2004-2005 Class consists of women from 39 medical and dental schools, including 6 institutions sponsoring Fellows for the first time.

"We welcome our tenth class of Fellows and look forward to being part of their learning and growth over the coming year," says Page S. Morahan, Ph.D., ELAM Co-Director and a founder of the program. "The ELAM Fellowship experience is like no other, providing time and opportunity for personal reflection and insight, application of new concepts and perspectives, and entry into an expanding network of women leaders eager to support each others' advancement," adds Morahan.

The ELAM curriculum combines traditional MBA training oriented toward issues and strategies pertinent to academic health management, with personal and professional development focused on leadership, career advancement, communication, and the use of new information/learning technologies.

Program highlights include opportunities to meet with nationally recognized leaders in academic medicine, healthcare, government and industry and to interact with peers from different disciplines and institutions. In between the program's three intensive onsite sessions, Fellows complete a variety of independent assignments, including interviews with senior executives to understand the operation and challenges of their institution from other perspectives, and the design and implementation of an action project that addresses an institutional need or goal.

ELAM's mission is to increase the number of women at AHCs in leadership positions and their success rate in attaining and remaining in these positions. Currently, in the U.S., only 11 of the 126 allopathic medical schools, 5 of the 20 osteopathic medical schools, and 9 of the 56 dental schools are headed by women deans (including interim positions). Of these, 7 (28%) are ELAM alumnae.

"ELAM intervenes at a critical stage in a woman's professional career and provides her with the skills, information and peer networks that will help her advance to the top," explains Dr. Morahan. "Once there, ELAM graduates have proven their ability to manage the challenges of leadership, helping their institutions navigate the curricular, organizational and policy changes needed to improve medical and dental education, research, practitioner training, and ultimately the delivery of health services to the public."

For more on the program curriculum, faculty, participants, and other information, visit the ELAM web site at www.drexel.edu/elam.

Philadelphia area graduates of the ELAM Class of 2004-2005 include:

Stephanie B. Abbuhl, M.D.
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
Vice Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA

Amy J. Goldberg, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery
Interim Medical Director, Trauma Critical Care
Temple University School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA

Ana E. Nunez, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Women's Health Education Program
Director, Center of Excellence in Women's Health
Drexel University College of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA