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Sponsoring Underrepresented Women in Medicine

 

The URSponsored initiative, co-sponsored by FOCUS on Health & Leadership along with the Alliance of Minority Physicians (AMP), is designed to enhance the careers of PSOM underrepresented women in medicine faculty members.  All full-time URiM women faculty on all tracks (AC, CE, tenure, and research) at the assistant level are eligible to apply. The goal of the URSponsored initiative, which is to launch a pilot program in July 2022, is to improve career advancement and job satisfaction by providing sponsors to guide faculty career planning, personal development, and scholarly success at Penn.

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Why is Sponsorship important?

Sponsorship is different from mentorship. Sponsorship focuses on positioning individuals for opportunities through the established career networks and influence of a sponsor in order to facilitate the career trajectory of the protégé. Opportunities for the protégé may include, but are not limited to, speaking engagements, awards, and leadership roles. 

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Mission:

  • To provide a structure for intentional sponsorship to support and improve the career trajectory of URiM women faculty at PSOM.

 

Vision:

  • To create a race and gender equitable institution at PSOM, in which women and URiM faculty are retained, promoted, and provided leadership opportunities at a rate equal to their colleagues.

 

Protégée: all full-time URiM women faculty on all tracks (AC, CE, tenure, and research) at the assistant level.

 

​Sponsors: all full-time men and women faculty allies at associate or full professor levels.

 

Commitment:

  • 3 years and an opportunity for recommitment  after the 3 years

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  • Sponsor Expectations

    • Meet at least twice a year with the protégé, with ongoing updates through a short form to be filled out quarterly

    • Track opportunities offered to protégées

    • Participate in program evaluations

    • Bring questions/concerns to FOCUS/AMP

    • Attend if possible the The URSponsored initiative reception for all participants immediately following our annual FOCUS conference, which is scheduled on Fri., Oct. 7, 2022.  We hope our sponsors and protégés can connect then as well. To continue to improve this initiative, we may reach out to you periodically after you complete the initiative.

Content:

  1. Webinar trainings for sponsors and protégé to grow skills necessary for successful sponsorship and academic advancement.

  2. Communicating with protégé to facilitate maintaining relationships with their advisors through regular email or virtual contact. It is the advisee's responsibility to maintain this relationship. 

  3. Supporting sponsors through regular follow up to see how the sponsor-protégé relationship is progressing. 

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Expected Outcomes: This initiative will enhance the career trajectories of the protégées and help sustain a more diverse workplace.  This initiative will promote connections among the faculty who participate and create a culture of connectedness and investment in the PSOM pipeline.

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Application Due Date: Email a completed application by ______________________ to Susan Primavera (sprimave@pennmedicine.upenn.edu).  Click here to download the application form.

 

Questions: Feel free to address any questions or concerns to any of the following FOCUS staff:

Susan Primavera, Perelman School of Medicine (sprimave@pennmedicine.upenn.edu)

Bridget Dougherty, Perelman School of Medicine (Bridget.Dougherty2@pennmedicine.upenn.edu)

 

Sponsorship Publications: