CASE IN POINT
SAEM PULSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2024
Everyone Wins: Departmental Awards Committee Increases Recognition and Promotion
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By Elizabeth Leenellett, MD, and Caroline Freiermuth, MD, on behalf of the SAEM Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine, the SAEM Awards committee, and the SAEM Faculty Development Committee The Emergency Medicine Program of Women in Leadership (EMPOWER) at the University of Cincinnati identified a critical issue among faculty members: Despite their impressive accomplishments and expertise, many women were reluctant to self-promote or advocate for recognition. This collective hesitation highlighted a broader challenge within academic medicine: navigating the complexities of career advancement in a competitive field where service, rather than visibility, is often the primary motivation. To address this, EMPOWER created an awards committee, which was later expanded to
include the entire department, aiming to foster a culture where achievements are celebrated, recognized, and leveraged for professional growth.
The awards committee was created to address three key objectives:
2. Facilitating Promotion and Career Advancement: Acknowledge the critical role of visibility and recognition in career progression, leadership opportunities, and overall professional development. Receiving awards builds credibility as an expert and can lead to invitations for collaborations or speaking engagements.
1. Building Internal and External Recognition: Enhance faculty visibility within the institution and in professional circles, thereby boosting their professional reputation and that of the department.
3. Teaching Self-Promotion Skills: Equip faculty with the skills to confidently articulate their accomplishments. Award nominations serve as an opportunity for faculty to practice. Rather than having the committee
Purpose of the Awards Committee