An important function of Women in Medicine and Science is facilitating the career development of women faculty and junior faculty members. Various initiatives have been organized by the WIMS to carry out its missions, including the Xinspire Faculty Mentoring Program, general professional development opportunities, two career development programs, and identification of liaisons within each WFSM department to facilitate communication and disseminate information to faculty across the institution.

Career Development for Women Leaders (CDWL) Program

This professional development fellowship began in January 2008. Modeled after national programs for women in academic medicine, the CDWL fellowship covers nine one-day sessions over months. Because national leadership programs for women are becoming increasingly competitive and expensive and only a few faculty members can benefit each year, the purposes of the cross-campus CDWL program are to provide:

• An affordable, university-based leadership development program for women who are either currently in or aspire to leadership roles at Wake Forest
• A local, national-level-quality experience that allows more women to participate in leadership education
• An opportunity to bring women together from diverse professional backgrounds (example: anesthesiology, cancer biology, theater, math) to exchange ideas and foster cross-campus collaboration.

Presenters are nationally and internationally known experts, executive coaches and senior Wake Forest University faculty and administrators. All presenters are highly respected in their content areas.

Women faculty (mid- to senior-career preferred) and senior staff (Vice President level or equivalent) are eligible to apply for the program. The call for applications opens annually in February/March for the program that begins the following September.

2021-2022 CDWL Program - Schedule and Topics

Graduate Analytics

• A total of 245 women-faculty has graduated from the CDWL program (2008-2021).
• Graduates: Wake Forest Baptist Heath/Wake Forest School of Medicine (66%), Wake Forest University (19%) and other (15%) – Atrium Health, High Point University, Salem College, University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Winston-Salem State University.
• More than 56% of CDWL graduates have accepted at least one new leadership role after program completion, and many have received more than one.

Early Career Development Program for Women

WIMS also sponsors the Early Career Development Program for Women (ECDPW). Targeted toward early-career women faculty (instructors, clinical instructors, assistant professors and clinical assistant professors with a minimum appointment of 1 year at their current institution), the ECDPW is modeled after the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Early Career Professional Development Seminar. The program consists of one session per month, January through June, for a total of 6 day-long sessions.

National Seminars are increasingly competitive and expensive. 

The ECPDW program has several benefits:

1. The faculty member will not have to travel out of town.
2. The program is spread out over 6 months, causing less interruption in research and clinical responsibilities.
3. More women will be able to participate.
4. Cost is reasonable (modest tuition for the program and minimal/no travel expenses).
5. The program provides an opportunity for women to come together from diverse professional backgrounds to exchange ideas and develop their networks further.

The 2022 ECDPW Call for Applications is now open.

Early career women faculty (instructor or assistant professor rank) are eligible to apply.  

• 2022 ECDPW Schedule
• 2022 ECDPW Flier
• 2022 ECDPW Application

The Career Development Selection and Review Committee selects program participants based on the following criteria:

1. Leadership experience and/or aspirations
2. Program fit with leadership goals
3. Service activities (institutional or outside of the institution)
4. Quality and professionalism of the application
5. Strength of the letter of support from the applicant’s Chair

In order to apply, the candidate must submit:

1. Application Form
2. Cover Letter (approximately one page) responding to the following: (a) Regarding your current career journey, what motivates you to apply for this program and why now?; (b) What are your career goals and how can the ECDPW help you to achieve these goals?; and (c) If there is any additional pertinent information that would be useful in evaluating your application, please detail it in this letter. Please be clear and concise.
3. Current CV
4. A strong and comprehensive letter of support from the candidate’s department chair and/or section chief should: (a) address the applicants fit for the program, detail the candidate strengths and how the candidate would benefit from participation in the program at this time (b) include a statement that allows the candidate release time for the program. This statement is particularly important since those accepted into the program must attend all sessions to receive the certificate of achievement.

The application process will begin September 1, 2021. The deadline to receive applications is September 30, 2021. Applications and other required documents should be submitted electronically to Heather Whitley, program manager for Faculty Affairs and the Women in Medicine and Science.

Please contact Heather Whitley, ECDPW Manager, if you have any questions.

Departmental Liaisons

Designated faculty serve as a connection between WIMS and the departments within Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. They also:

• Assist in the recruitment of women faculty. Departmental liaisons notify WIMS when women faculty candidates are being interviewed in their department, so someone from the office can be included in the interview process or provide written material on our programming.
• Facilitate the development of women faculty in each department.
• Encourage women faculty in each department to attend WIMS functions by making announcements at faculty meetings or by sharing notices with the relevant audience.
• Facilitate the WIMS Early Career Women Faculty Mentoring Program by offering the names of strong mentors within the department or by telling women faculty about the program.
• Bring to WIMS any concerns about mentoring of women faculty and leadership roles for women in the department.