Assessing perceived effectiveness of career development efforts led by the women in American Medical Informatics Association Initiative. (30th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wei, Duo (Helen); Kukhareva, Polina V; Tao, Donghua; Sordo, Margarita; Pandita, Deepti; Dua, Prerna; Banerjee, Imon; Abraham, Joanna
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Volume 29:Number 9(2022)
• Page Start: 1593
• Page End: 1606
• Publication Date: 2022-06-30
• Subjects: AMIA -- gender -- career development -- equity -- biomedical informatics -- professional organization -- women; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; Information Services -- Periodicals; Medical Informatics -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Informatica; Geneeskunde; Informatique médicale; Computer network resources; Electronic journals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocac101
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1067-5027

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: We sought to ascertain perceived factors affecting women's career development efforts in the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and to provide recommendations for improvements. Materials and Methods: Data were collected using a 27-item survey administered via the AMIA newsletter and other social channels. Survey questions comprised 3 demographics, 15 Likert-scale, and 9 open-ended items. Likert-scale responses were summarized across respondent ages, career stages, and career domains, and open-ended responses were thematically analyzed. Results: We received survey responses from 109 AMIA women members. Our findings demonstrate that AMIA had made strides in promoting career development, and the most effective AMIA efforts included social events (83%), panel discussions (80%), and scientific sessions (79%). However, despite these efforts, women members perceived that gender-specific challenges persisted within AMIA, and recognized the need for increased networking opportunities (96%), raising awareness of gender-specific challenges (95%), and encouraging gender proportional representation in leadership (92%). Discussion: International and national biomedical informatics professional communities have put forth efforts to address gender-specific issues in career development. Yet, our study identified that some of these, including the deep-rooted gender power hierarchy and bias, are still perceived as profound in AMIA. Conclusion: Even though existing career development efforts for women are highly effective, important perceived gender-specific career development issues require further attention and investigation to improve existing AMIA activities.