Impact of a Leadership Program for Women Faculty: A Retrospective Survey of Eight Years of Cohort Participants

Leadership programs for faculty are proliferating, yet we know little about their impact. In this survey of eight cohorts of a leadership program for medical school women faculty, we report participants' perceptions in three areas: (1) program impact; (2) leadership preparedness; and (3) barriers to leadership advancement. The majority of survey participants indicated that the program influenced their: foundational leadership skills; personal experiences of leadership; and sense of professional community and belonging. Half felt that despite feeling prepared for leadership, they did not have leadership opportunities. Lack of leadership turnover and transparency were ranked highest among barriers to leadership advancement.