PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kharmene L Sunga
AU  - Dara Kass
TI  - Taking the stage: a development programme for women speakers in emergency medicine
AID  - 10.1136/emermed-2018-207818
DP  - 2019 Apr 01
TA  - Emergency Medicine Journal
PG  - 199--201
VI  - 36
IP  - 4
4099  - http://emj.bmj.com/content/36/4/199.short
4100  - http://emj.bmj.com/content/36/4/199.full
SO  - Emerg Med J2019 Apr 01; 36
AB  - Female physicians in the USA achieve associate and full professor rank at numbers disparate to their representation within emergency medicine (EM). The authors describe a novel curriculum aimed at developing women speakers as a step on the journey towards academic recognition. In this pilot programme, four female physicians at a single academic emergency department participated in a year-long Speaker Development Programme (SDP), and all presented in at least one national EM conference at SDP completion. Participants reported improved speaking skills, confidence and drive to present externally. Elements to success were mentor engagement, encouragement by the departmental chair and creation of a growth and belonging mindset within the cohort. Future steps include creating a framework for maintaining the SDP beyond the pilot phase, such as ensuring access to curriculum materials, and retaining an experienced external mentor over time.