How to Be Savvy About Gender Disparities in Academic Stroke Medicine

Abstract

In the past decade, stroke medicine has evolved from discovery of innovative diagnostic tools to implementation of new treatments. These advances are projected to increase the demand for stroke neurologists in academic and clinical practices, but hopefully with equitable opportunities for everyone across the gender spectrum. Academic medicine provides opportunities to participate in clinical care, teaching, research, and administration. The early career stage is short-focused on finding an academic niche and developing new skills that will help you navigate the academic environment. A recent InterSECT article emphasized the critical role of women’s leadership in stroke medicine. In this article, we reflect on workforce gender disparities and provide 5 practical strategies that may help women overcome barriers and advance their work mission.