The Work That Remains at the Intersection of Gender and Career Development

Bickel J. The work that remains at the intersection of gender and career development.

Building on the study by Wagner et al, this commentary opens with a discussion of the persistence of gender disparities in career development and the challenge of interpreting those disparities. Given the multifaceted challenges facing rehabilitation medicine, facilitation of the career and leadership development of women physiatrists is critical. I suggest 3 areas of targeted action to facilitate the realization of women physiatrists’ intellectual capital: (1) updated approaches to faculty and leadership development and mentoring, (2) more flexible faculty structures, and (3) chair support and accountability. Each member of the rehabilitation medicine community who cares about the future of the discipline is challenged to contribute to the dialogues that are necessary to carry these recommendations forward.