{"id":3863,"date":"2026-09-30T20:46:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T20:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3863"},"modified":"2026-09-30T20:46:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T20:46:30","slug":"how-women-can-step-into-leadership-roles-in-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3863","title":{"rendered":"How women can step into leadership roles in medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"ArticleContent\">\n<div class=\"article__below-title\">\n<div class=\" article__posted-date\">\n<p>September 30, 2026<\/p>\n<p>3 min read<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mobile-trust-box\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-5 d-xl-none\">\n<div class=\"trust-box\">\n<div class=\"trust-box-logo d-none d-md-block\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/h5\/feature\/news\/publogos\/ot.svg?la=en&amp;h=23&amp;w=159&amp;hash=0C53011B4A1D906E8E9D275AC6F6251E\" class=\"logo-img\" height=\"23\" alt=\"Orthapedics today logo\" width=\"159\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 offset-md-1 offset-xl-0 col-xl-12\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n<hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n<hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>\n<span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\"><br \/>\n<i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/><br \/>\nAdd topic to email alerts<br \/>\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse ub44c80fcd156493daf2d233e9d9da40e\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>\nReceive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\nPlease provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8221; data-action=subscribe&gt;<br \/>\nSubscribe<br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\"> <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/orthopedics\/20260930\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Key takeaways:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Once a main motivating factor for being a leader is established, women should seek opportunities to reach their goals.<\/li>\n<li>To be a great leader is to listen, be organized, be a team player and be authentic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>CHICAGO \u2014 According to WHO, women represent 67% of the global health and social care workforce, providing essential health services to approximately 5 billion people worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>However, research has shown that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/hematology-oncology\/20250923\/advancement-of-women-in-medicine-in-leadership-roles-improves-health-care-quality-outcomes\" id=\"rId8\" target=\"_blank\">fewer than 30% of women hold senior leadership positions<\/a> within medicine.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"figure article__og-image\">\n<picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/orthopedics\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/ot0826mulcahey_wim_graphic_01_web.webp?w=476\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/orthopedics\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/ot0826mulcahey_wim_graphic_01_web.webp?w=800\" media=\"(max-width: 992px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/orthopedics\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/ot0826mulcahey_wim_graphic_01_web.webp?w=595\" media=\"(max-width: 1200px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/orthopedics\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/ot0826mulcahey_wim_graphic_01_web.webp?w=476\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/orthopedics\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/ot0826mulcahey_wim_graphic_01_web.webp?w=476\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/orthopedics\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/ot0826mulcahey_wim_graphic_01_web.jpg?w=800\" alt=\"OT0826Mulcahey_WiM_Graphic_01\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid\" width=\"800\"\/><br \/>\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cTraditionally, most of the people we have seen in leadership within and outside of medicine have typically been men and, even more specifically, white men,\u201d <b>Mary K. Mulcahey, MD, <\/b>professor and chief of sports medicine in the department of orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation at Loyola University Medical Center, told Healio. \u201cWhat it has been, too, is women have not felt like they have been supported or encouraged as much to pursue these roles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Mulcahey said that women in leadership roles in medicine is \u201ccritical.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want to have people in leadership positions who represent the patients we are taking care of, who can help make decisions that impact what we are doing in medicine, how we are taking care of our patients, the opportunities that we have available from both the clinical side and also in academic medicine as we are training residents and fellows and supporting our junior faculty,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cWe want to have a diverse representation of leaders, and that is gender, racial, ethnic \u2014 all aspects of diversity.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Identify your motivating factor<\/h2>\n<p>In discussing her presentation at the Women in Medicine Summit, Mulcahey said it may take time for women to identify their main motivating factor or driving force for becoming a leader in medicine. Once that is established, it is important to seek out opportunities that support those goals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce you truly understand what it is that drives and motivates you, it is important to determine what you want to accomplish and how you can help accomplish that in whatever setting you are in,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cIf you are in your department, your division or a committee in a society, what can you do to accomplish that and not for you as an individual, but for the greater good for the group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to Mulcahey, part of accomplishing goals as a leader is developing a leadership voice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is using your voice, using your position, too, and your experience, your network and those around you to help accomplish that goal, to affect change and move things forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>But Mulcahey told Healio it takes time and a lot of trials to develop a leadership voice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA big part of that is never being afraid to try things or to \u201cfail\u201d because the only thing worse than failing is never trying in the first place,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cA lot of growth happens as you try different things, and being willing to do that helps you further develop your leadership voice become stronger and more confident.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Be authentic<\/h2>\n<p>In addition to developing a leadership voice, Mulcahey said it is important for leaders to be good listeners, organized and a team player.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNever try to be the smartest or the best person in the room or the group, but surround yourself with people who are strong in different areas and leverage those strengths because everyone benefits,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>According to Mulcahey, \u201cAuthenticity is another critical aspect of being an effective leader.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said this means being true to yourself and showing up as yourself, while also keeping in mind the context of the event.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow we show up at the family barbecue on Saturday is completely different from if we are giving an important presentation to a Board,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cWe can still show up as ourselves but just be aware of the context.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Part of being authentic includes having both internal and external self-awareness. Mulcahey said internal self-awareness includes understanding how you respond emotionally to different situations, whether in the clinic or a meeting, while external self-awareness involves how the emotions that are being expressed outwardly impact the people around you.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs leaders, how we act and how we carry ourselves impacts the members of our team and everyone around us,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cAs effective leaders, we want to be able to be strong in both of those areas, be aware of what we are experiencing and be able to, in some ways, control it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While stepping into a leadership role may feel daunting, Mulcahey said that it is something that no one will ever feel completely ready for, but to do it anyway.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBeing a physician, that in and of itself defines you as a leader,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cWe are all leaders. Just bearing that in mind is helpful to use as physicians to seek out opportunities to grow and develop these skills.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>For more information:<\/h2>\n<p> <b>Mary K. Mulcahey, MD,<\/b> can be contacted at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/orthopedics\/20260930\/mailto:mary.mulcahey.md@gmail.com\" id=\"rId9\" target=\"_blank\">mary.mulcahey.md@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content--footer\">\n<div class=\"publisher-logo\">\n<span>Published by:<\/span><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/h5\/feature\/news\/publogos\/ot.svg?la=en&amp;h=23&amp;w=159&amp;hash=0C53011B4A1D906E8E9D275AC6F6251E\" class=\"logo-img\" height=\"23\" alt=\"Orthapedics today logo\" width=\"159\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sources-references-disclosures\">\n<h3>Sources\/Disclosures<\/h3>\n<h2> Source: <\/h2>\n<p class=\"citation\">Mulcahey MK. Finding your leadership voice: Authenticity, strategy and culture in leading change in Medicine. Presented at: Women in Medicine Summit. Sept. 24-26, 2026; Chicago.<\/p>\n<h2>References:<\/h2>\n<div class=\"disclosures\">\n<p>\n<strong> Disclosures: <\/strong><br \/>\nMulcahey reports no relevant financial disclosures.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"healio-ai-component-inline\" data-no-ads=\"true\" data-module-track-category=\"Healio AI\" data-module-track-action=\"Click\" data-module-track-label=\"Access Healio Ai from component - News_AI Component - In-Content (all devices)\">\n<div class=\"healio-ai-content\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m3.healio.com\/~\/media\/images\/healio-ai\/healio-ai_logo.svg\" alt=\"Healio AI\" class=\"healio-ai-logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ask a clinical question<\/strong> and tap into <strong>Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge<\/strong> base.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines<\/li>\n<li>Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news<\/li>\n<li>Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"healio-ai-button\" onclick=\"window.location.href=\" https:=\"\">Learn more<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n<hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n<hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>\n<span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\"><br \/>\n<i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/><br \/>\nAdd topic to email alerts<br \/>\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse ub44c80fcd156493daf2d233e9d9da40e\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>\nReceive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\nPlease provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8221; data-action=subscribe&gt;<br \/>\nSubscribe<br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\"> <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/orthopedics\/20260930\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/orthopedics\/20260930\/do-not-be-afraid-to-fail-how-women-can-step-into-leadership-roles-in-medicine\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>September 30, 2026 3 min read Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8221; data-action=subscribe&gt; Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: Once a main motivating factor for being a leader is established, women should seek opportunities to reach their goals. To be a great leader is to listen, be organized, be a team player and be authentic. CHICAGO \u2014 According to WHO, women represent 67% of the global health and social care workforce, providing essential health services to approximately 5 billion people worldwide. However, research has shown that fewer than 30% of women hold senior leadership positions within medicine. \u201cTraditionally, most of the people we have seen in leadership within and outside of medicine have typically been men and, even more specifically, white men,\u201d Mary K. Mulcahey, MD, professor and chief of sports medicine in the department of orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation at Loyola University Medical Center, told Healio. \u201cWhat it has been, too, is women have not felt like they have been supported or encouraged as much to pursue these roles.\u201d But Mulcahey said that women in leadership roles in medicine is \u201ccritical.\u201d \u201cWe want to have people in leadership positions who represent the patients we are taking care of, who can help make decisions that impact what we are doing in medicine, how we are taking care of our patients, the opportunities that we have available from both the clinical side and also in academic medicine as we are training residents and fellows and supporting our junior faculty,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cWe want to have a diverse representation of leaders, and that is gender, racial, ethnic \u2014 all aspects of diversity.\u201d Identify your motivating factor In discussing her presentation at the Women in Medicine Summit, Mulcahey said it may take time for women to identify their main motivating factor or driving force for becoming a leader in medicine. Once that is established, it is important to seek out opportunities that support those goals. \u201cOnce you truly understand what it is that drives and motivates you, it is important to determine what you want to accomplish and how you can help accomplish that in whatever setting you are in,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cIf you are in your department, your division or a committee in a society, what can you do to accomplish that and not for you as an individual, but for the greater good for the group.\u201d According to Mulcahey, part of accomplishing goals as a leader is developing a leadership voice. \u201cIt is using your voice, using your position, too, and your experience, your network and those around you to help accomplish that goal, to affect change and move things forward,\u201d she said. But Mulcahey told Healio it takes time and a lot of trials to develop a leadership voice. \u201cA big part of that is never being afraid to try things or to \u201cfail\u201d because the only thing worse than failing is never trying in the first place,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cA lot of growth happens as you try different things, and being willing to do that helps you further develop your leadership voice become stronger and more confident.\u201d Be authentic In addition to developing a leadership voice, Mulcahey said it is important for leaders to be good listeners, organized and a team player. \u201cNever try to be the smartest or the best person in the room or the group, but surround yourself with people who are strong in different areas and leverage those strengths because everyone benefits,\u201d she said. According to Mulcahey, \u201cAuthenticity is another critical aspect of being an effective leader.\u201d She said this means being true to yourself and showing up as yourself, while also keeping in mind the context of the event. \u201cHow we show up at the family barbecue on Saturday is completely different from if we are giving an important presentation to a Board,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cWe can still show up as ourselves but just be aware of the context.\u201d Part of being authentic includes having both internal and external self-awareness. Mulcahey said internal self-awareness includes understanding how you respond emotionally to different situations, whether in the clinic or a meeting, while external self-awareness involves how the emotions that are being expressed outwardly impact the people around you. \u201cAs leaders, how we act and how we carry ourselves impacts the members of our team and everyone around us,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cAs effective leaders, we want to be able to be strong in both of those areas, be aware of what we are experiencing and be able to, in some ways, control it.\u201d While stepping into a leadership role may feel daunting, Mulcahey said that it is something that no one will ever feel completely ready for, but to do it anyway. \u201cBeing a physician, that in and of itself defines you as a leader,\u201d Mulcahey said. \u201cWe are all leaders. Just bearing that in mind is helpful to use as physicians to seek out opportunities to grow and develop these skills.\u201d For more information: Mary K. Mulcahey, MD, can be contacted at mary.mulcahey.md@gmail.com. Published by: Sources\/Disclosures Source: Mulcahey MK. Finding your leadership voice: Authenticity, strategy and culture in leading change in Medicine. Presented at: Women in Medicine Summit. Sept. 24-26, 2026; Chicago. References: Disclosures: Mulcahey reports no relevant financial disclosures. Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge base. PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data Learn more Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8221; data-action=subscribe&gt; Subscribe We were unable to process your request. 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