Navigating Forks in the Road: Divergent Career Paths of Women Leaders in C-L Psychiatry

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Consultation-Liaison psychiatry (CLP) offers a multitude of career pathways to those in the field. As one progresses from training into a career, the pathway from trainee to early-career to mid-career and then to senior psychiatrist is punctuated with developmental phases. These phases can be distinct for women who navigate these tasks while also attending to a variety of competing forces such as gender disparities in work environments as well as child care and caring for aging parents which often fall disproportionately on women.

As women move through their careers, new challenges emerge such as finding like-minded mentors, and negotiating clinical and administrative leadership roles while aspiring to achieve pay equity. These challenges are often answered by pursuing creative career paths both within and outside of academia. This presentation includes women leaders in CLP, who will present their individual and diverse career paths and how their training and background in CLP has served them.

The session will begin with an introduction by Drs Becker and Mittal.

Dr Becker will describe the value of mentorship and how it influences the trajectory of a career in medicine, serving as support, a means of building valuable relationships, opening up professional opportunities and support in navigating challenges.

Dr Mittal will discuss mid-career challenges and opportunities as well as how C-L psychiatry training and experience can serve as a springboard into subspecialty leadership and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Dr Cremens will discuss sustaining a career in academic C-L Psychiatry, mentors, mentees, and planning for the future

Dr. Worley will dispel the myth that highly successful careers are carefully planned from start to finish. She will share insights into how an early career in C-L can be a launching platform for continued career growth and exciting opportunities.

Dr. Shah will discuss how CL psychiatry can help lead to involvement in hospital leadership efforts and activities where a psychiatric lens proves crucial. She will also discuss the importance of career stage-specific mentorship within this trajectory.