The commitment By Hirschel D. McGinnis, MD How men can be effective allies in IR
comprising about 20% of resident trainees in recent years.1
C However,
studies have demonstrated that up to 40% of women in medicine work less than full-time or have left the profession completely within 6 years of completing training. Further, women make up half of medical school graduates, but on the current trajectory, it’ll be 2070 before women find parity with men as department chairs and residency program directors.
IR has one of the lowest rates of female representation in medicine. The Women in Interventional Radiology (WIR) Section has been extremely effective in their efforts to elevate the profile and expand opportunities for female IRs. However, the labor of equity can’t fall solely on the shoulders of women. As the majority representation in IR, men can and should play a key role in advancing and supporting their female colleagues. There is a lot of systemic work to be done, but change starts at the beginning. For men seeking to be effective allies, many things can be done on an individual level.
Don’t create a culture where women are tolerated. Strive to create a workplace culture where women are welcomed and supported. Most people don’t want to exist in a space where they’re merely tolerated. The notion of “tolerance” can convey a sense that the subject is intrinsically offensive, unsuitable or out of place. Meaningful professional development will most likely flourish in spaces where people feel genuinely accepted. From there, mentoring, sponsoring and championing nascent talent can foster
10 IRQ | SUMMER 2022
urrently, women make up about 10% of the IR workforce, but the pipeline is looking brighter, with women
People create culture. Be intentional in shaping a workplace culture that is welcoming, flexible and inclusive.
professional growth. This in turn can attract others who have been historically marginalized to bring their talents into your section.
Be intentional in the culture you create. People create culture. Be intentional in shaping a workplace culture that is welcoming, flexible and inclusive. For instance, if workplace conversations routinely steer towards professional sports or other niche interests, notice if others consistently don’t engage on the topic or avoid these conversations
altogether. Try to balance conversations with other topics that may be more engaging to others. This may not be easy, but it is an opportunity to know your colleagues on a deeper and more meaningful level.
Be aware of your own biases. To be human is to be biased. Bias relates to a discrepancy between how we view something and the objective nature of the matter at hand. Biases can lead us to have a distorted perspective, resulting in misinterpretation, poor judgment and irrational behaviors. They color
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