WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute launches women leadership program

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A newly launched leadership development program aims to improve the representation of women in leadership roles at WVU Medicine and in the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.

As is true in much of medicine and foundational science, women have been underrepresented in leadership roles, but the Women in Neuroscience Leadership Program will work to foster the development of current and future leaders.

“Gender representation disparities in medicine and neuroscience have dramatically improved, but there remains a significant shortage of women in leadership roles in these fields,” said Dr. David Watson, Chair and Professor of Neurology of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. “While this could self-correct over an extended timeframe, it is important to purposefully engage future women leaders and provide tools, role models, and opportunities for them to move into these roles.”

With input from other leaders, department chairs at RNI will nominate a woman physician or scientist from each of the five departments to participate in the year-long development program.

Throughout the year, the participants will attend regularly scheduled RNI leadership meetings; receive curriculum developed by Barbara Hoese, a leadership training expert; meet with women leaders in WVU Medicine, WVU School of Medicine, WVU and in the community; and attend a prestigious, intensive leadership training program.

“We want to make sure that we are building an institution where faculty feel a sense of inclusion and belonging,” said Karyn Wallace, vice president of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. “We know that makes a big difference in terms of our faculty recruitment, but it also makes a difference in faculty retention.”

Ultimately, the Women in Neuroscience Physician Leadership Development Program aims to place participants in leadership roles throughout the hospital and university. The program also aims to create leaders to support future program participants, and to serve as a model for other institutions within the WVU system.

-WVU-

wh/08/20/20

CONTACT: Marisa Sayre
Senior Marketing Strategist
Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute
304-293-8976; marisa.sayre.m@wvumedicine.org