According to a 2019 University of Michigan Health Study, 40 percent of women physicians scale back their practices or quit altogether.
Then there's Tammie Chang, M.D., a pediatric oncologist known for treating severely ill children who has also become a national champion for women physicians to have greater fulfillment in their careers and personal lives.
The child of an allergist, Chang shadowed a pediatric cardiologist during a high school apprenticeship program and immediately told her parents, "I found my path!"
Chang attended one of the leading medical schools, at Brown University, then a top pediatric oncology fellowship program, at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In 2015, post-graduation, Dr. Chang launched her practice in Tacoma, Washington with University of Washington professorships following.
But it's leadership where Dr. Chang would uniquely plant her feet - stepping up in 2019 as Washington State President of the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA).
As Covid-19 spread, Dr. Chang cared for some of the sickest children in the nation - and launched what can easily be considered a movement to help women physicians thrive.
First came Dr. Chang's bold decision to become the first Director of Provider Wellness for MultiCare Health System, an integrated Tacoma-based health care delivery system comprised of eleven hospitals as well as primary, urgent care and specialty clinics.
Promising to create a "culture of wellness," Dr. Chang created programs delivered to over 4000 providers, more than half women. Under Chang, these women were taught the resilience needed to offset burnout that statistically affects 56% of women physicians. Their chance of dying by suicide is 400% greater than for women in the general population, and significantly higher than that of their male counterparts.
Dr. Chang moved on to Co-Found the Women of Influence Network, also throughout the expansive MultiCare System. As of January 2021, through virtual events, guest speakers and group discussions, women physicians were finally taught to become leaders themselves. As Dr. Chang says, "The culture of medicine will only change when women move into leadership." 300 have already participated.
Dr. Chang grew her leadership-training platform in January 2021 as Co-Founder and Director of ELEVATE, AMWA's first year-long leadership development program for women physicians. The inaugural class, a global one, began in June 2021.
Then there's Pink Coat, MD, also Co-Founded by Dr. Chang - in March 2020 to help women physicians the world over thrive both personally and professionally. Over 1200 have participated in more than 36 programs including virtual events, courses and workshops as well as a three-week" How To Thrive Bootcamp." 150 attended the latter with 98% reporting significantly reduced burnout and far greater joy and energy in their lives.
As one doctor said, "it was a lifeline during the pandemic!"
Cool Chicks in Medicine, quietly launched in 2019, took off during the pandemic. Co-Founded by Dr. Chang, it is a safe, supportive community of women physicians within MultiCare. During the pandemic, this meant virtual dinners filled with laugher and shared recipes. Business dinners may be routine in other professions; up until now, for women physicians, they're nonexistent.
If this weren't enough, Dr. Chang penned two books. "How To Thrive As A Woman Physician," which she co-authored, was published in 2021 and is a full-on compendium of what's needed to thrive - from self-care to setting personal boundaries, to having self-compassion and knowing your values.
In 2022 came the book most important to Dr. Chang: "Boundaries For Women Physicians." Chang has hit rock bottom herself; here she shares her secret for the career fulfillment and high energy she so brilliantly demonstrates every day. There's a Boundaries Workbook and Whole-Life Plan, too. Media came calling including Harvard Business Review.
Per Dr. Chang. "Women physicians still do 80% of the housework once they get home. Our entire culture needs to change."
Bold step after bold step, she is doing just that.
Nomination Title: Tammie Chang, M.D. - Creating A National Platform for Women Physicians
