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DAILY / MAY 21, 2013, VOL. 3, NO. 23   Send Feedback l View Online
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2013 APA's Annual Meeting Special Edition

Geetha Jayaram, Annelle Primm, and Donna Norris
Geetha Jayaram, M.D., Annelle Primm, M.D., and Donna Norris, M.D.


Women Psychiatrists Share Advice on Overcoming Career Obstacles

As the number and proportion of women in psychiatry grow, it is becoming increasingly important to create opportunities for women to dialogue about the challenges and opportunities they encounter in the field. Women in Psychiatry: Personal Perspectives, published by American Psychiatric Publishing in 2012, has 21 chapters written by women in psychiatry at various stages of development, many of whom are distinguished leaders in the field. This book served as the draw for a “Meet the Authors” session at APA’s 2013 annual meeting, back by popular demand after the successful 2012 session in Philadelphia. The discussion was led by the book’s editors, Donna Norris, M.D., Annelle Primm, M.D., M.P.H., and Geetha Jayaram, M.D., M.B.A.

Similar to last year’s session, the seating was changed to form a circle to create a relaxed environment and permit more informal discussion. Women psychiatrists and members-in-training from a variety of backgrounds heard from chapter authors about their observations of historical, political, and social environments and how they utilized psychiatry to have an impact on people, families, and populations. Authors also emphasized the importance of persistence in working toward their goals, despite hardships, which motivated them to forge ahead.

Audience members shared their experiences of the obstacles that women psychiatrists face, and there was considerable discussion on how to navigate professional, personal, and family domains. Attendees discussed issues such as balancing work and family life, dealing with gender-related slights in the workplace, overcoming barriers to professional advancement, and identifying role models and mentors. Some of the discussion centered on other recent publications, such as Cheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In and how applicable to women psychiatrists are the book’s ideas about the penalties women pay for being successful and assertions that women can’t have it all, must be flexible and realistic, and surrender to compromise and sacrifice every day.

Examples of the practical pointers that were exchanged during the session included mentoring as an essential component of career development, developing the skill of speaking up for oneself, finding ways to say no, and learning how not to be afraid to say yes.

A recent article in Psychiatric News by Judith Kashtan, M.D., a member of the APA Board of Trustees, highlighted the need for APA to become more responsive to women’s needs. APA women members responded to the article with requests for more opportunities for women to engage with each other at the annual meeting. The San Francisco meeting reflected increased attention to women’s needs and interests with a special menu of activities that publicized the Meet the Authors session on Women in Psychiatry and a full array of women-psychiatrist-focused programming, including a Women’s Mentoring Breakfast, a newly reactivated Women’s Center, the meeting of the APA Women’s Caucus, and a host of workshops and symposia on the scientific program.

Drs. Norris and Primm provided this report.


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