A “Leaky Pipeline” and the Loss of Talented Female Physicians
December 8, 2023 | Education, Leadership, Women in healthcare
A leaky pipeline that begins during medical school and extends throughout the training process means we lose many talented women, says Fatima Rodriguez, director of preventive cardiology and associate professor at Stanford University. That’s one reason female chairs, chiefs, and lead research authors are few and far between.
It’s especially true in cardiology, says Rodriguez. “People are like, ‘Are you sure you want to do cardiology? It’s a really hard lifestyle. Don’t you want to have a family?’ ” Which is why the importance of mentorship — and sponsorship — cannot be overstated, she says.
In Episode 5 of Medscape’s Women in Healthcare Leadership podcast series, Rodriguez is joined by her mentor, JoAnne Foody, also a preventive cardiologist and the Chief Medical Officer at Esperion. “Having somebody like JoAnne, who really seemed to do it all and do it well, and with a smile, and was incredibly supportive, transformed my career. With her mentorship, I became very committed to addressing some of the research questions and to academic medicine.”
And research is the name of the game when it comes to advancing women’s heart health. Because even now there’s a knowledge gap about how women’s cardiac symptoms are different from men’s — including among women themselves.
“Clinical trials have to mirror those we care for,” says Foody. “And currently they don’t. So we really must do better. We have to cast aside all these excuses and look to solutions.”
Both Foody and Rodriguez are committed to helping remove the barriers that women face in being diagnosed promptly and treated appropriately. Both have personal family backstories about what led them to enter the cardiology field.
As both thought and industry leaders it’s not surprising that they also champion advances in technology, including tools such as AI to ensure more personalized precision medicine for the best patient outcomes. Artificial Intelligence isn’t just a cool gadget, they say, but rather a way for scientists and clinicians to do things quicker, and more efficiently.
“I think it’s a very exciting time to enter cardiology,” says Rodriguez. “You’ll never be bored. Every day looks different. We can really make a dent, make people feel better or improve their prognosis. And that’s what medicine is all about.”
Moderated by Jelena Spyropoulos, Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Sales, Medscape Education. It’s a can’t-miss conversation. Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts, alternatively find us on your preferred podcast platform. Also available on Medscape.
For more information, please contact Jelena Spyropoulos (Global) or Piyali Shin (US).
About Medscape Education
Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free CME and CE courses for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
This content was provided by Medscape Education
Company Details
Latest Content from Medscape Education
The Heart and Mouth Connection Every Woman Needs to Know
For decades, modern medicine has treated the mouth and the body as separate entities. But for Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a renowned cardiologist, and Dr. Maria Ryan, Chief Clinical Officer at...
Uncovering Inequities in Alzheimer’s Disease Screening and Care
On December 5, MAPS hosted an educational webinar exploring recent research in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) screening, testing, and treatment. Experts from Komodo Health and Medscape shared findings from their...
Where Are We Today With Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Rare Disease Diagnosis and Care?
Discover how AI-powered tools are transforming rare disease diagnosis, patient care, and clinical decision-making.
Does Rare Disease Education Work?
For a child with a rare disease, a doctor’s continuing education can end a years-long diagnostic odyssey and unlock access to vital care.
From Genetic Puzzles to Precision Therapeutics
How was a new rare disease discovered through Singapore’s Undiagnosed Disease Program? And how will technology allow us to change how we discover rare diseases in the future? Read more...
Medscape and the GNNRD: Empowering Nurses With a Rare Disease Education Series
Nurses play a vital and multifaceted role in rare disease care, providing consistent patient support, education, and care coordination, and ongoing education is essential to empower them to meet the...
What Is the RDI-Lancet Commission for Rare Disease and What Will It Achieve?
Christy Rohani-Montez, Medscape’s Rare Disease Education Lead recently spoke with Dr Lucy McKay, CEO, and Megan Pullein, Strategic Operations Officer from the UK-based charity Medics for Rare Disease (MfRD). We...
“CGM Sweet Talk With the Sugar Queens” Takes Silver at the 2025 Digital Health Awards
Medscape Education’s dynamic educational series, CGM Sweet Talk With the Sugar Queens, has earned a Silver Award in the Video Series (Digital Health Media / Publications) category at the 2025...
Medscape at ASH 2025: Landmark Value Through the Medscape AI Debut and Five Educational Symposia
For decades, Medscape has been the brand physicians trust. Now, Medscape is forging a new path into the future at ASH 2025 with the launch of Medscape AI — the...
Women Leaders Rewriting the Protocols of Rare Disease Care
The true measure of a medical leader is the courage to act when existing systems fail the patient. This is the professional and personal ethos of clinical immunologist Dr. Hilary...