From Grassroots to Impact: Leadership Development for Women in Academic Medicine
Webinar
What does it take to build a leadership pipeline for women in academic medicine — and sustain it? In this compelling webinar, Vidhya Prakash, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FAMWA, chief medical officer and associate dean of clinical affairs at SIU Medicine, shares her personal journey from military service to the executive suite, including the pivotal moment when colleagues urged her to pursue the CMO role — and why she almost didn't. With women comprising just 34% of U.S. physicians and holding only 18% of hospital CEO positions and 16% of dean and department chair roles, the path to senior leadership remains deeply uneven. Dr. Prakash unpacks the implicit bias, pay inequity, and false narratives that create those gaps — and how she moved through them anyway.
At the center of her story is the Alliance for Women in Medicine and Science (AWIMS), a grassroots initiative she helped build. Dr. Prakash credits AWIMS with preparing women with skills such as strategic career planning, emotional intelligence, work-life integration — to step into CMO and other senior roles with confidence. She will also explore what the CMO position actually demands: building relationships across complex stakeholder groups, driving health equity, aligning teams around shared mission and vision, and leading transformational change. This is leadership development with real stakes — and a proven track record.
Learning Objectives:
Identify the key competencies necessary for physician leaders including strategic career planning, emotional intelligence, and negotiation — and their direct application to senior leadership roles such as CMO.
Recognize the scope and responsibilities of the Chief Medical Officer role and practical strategies women can use to navigate leadership pathways, overcome systemic barriers, and build inclusive, high-performing organizations.
Describe the origins, core initiatives, and measurable outcomes of AWIMS and its impact on institutional culture and career advancement for women in academic medicine