AMA Awards Research Grants Aimed at Advancing the Study of Women in Medicine

PRESS RELEASE

CHICAGO — In recognition of Women in Medicine Month, the American Medical Association (AMA)'s Women Physicians Section along with the AMA Foundation today announced the winners of the 2014 Joan F. Giambalvo Fund for the Advancement of Women. The scholarships, up to $10,000, are awarded to research programs focused on advancing the study of women in the medical profession and strengthening the AMA's ability to identify and address the issues affecting women physicians and medical students.

"We are proud to recognize two outstanding members of the medical community, whose work is raising awareness about these issues," said Robert Wah, M.D., president, American Medical Association. "Their work will help propel the AMA's advocacy efforts on the advancement and understanding of women in medicine."

The 2014 recipients are:

• Elizabeth H. Ellinas, M.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology; Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs; and Chief of Obstetric Anesthesia and Obstetric Anesthesia Fellowship Director at the Medical College of Wisconsin Research Topic: Gender Differences in Promotion and Retention: Enhancing the Position of Female Faculty in Higher Academic Rank and Leadership Positions
• Sneha Harshad Shah, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine and Associate Program Director of Emergency Medicine Residency Program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School Research Topic: Gender Differences in Empathy and Burnout amongst Emergency Medicine Residents

"The gap between women and men undeniably exists in the house of medicine," said Dr. Shah. "I applied for this fund because it supports projects that raise awareness of gender inequalities so that women can persevere and rise through their professional careers." The AMA Women Physicians Section (WPS) consists of the more than 70,000 members of the AMA and aims to increase the number and influence of women physicians in leadership roles and to advocate for and advance the understanding of women's health issues. Each year, WPS celebrates Women in Medicine month to recognize the progression of women in medicine and the contributions they have made to the medical field. Read more about the two studies that are project winners of this year's Joan F. Giambalvo Fund for the Advancement AMA's Women in Medicine Month.

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About the AMA Foundation

The AMA Foundation, a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt foundation, is dedicated to improving public health by raising funds and providing philanthropic support to high-impact health and medical scholarship programs.

About the AMA

The American Medical Association is the premier national organization dedicated to empowering the nation's physicians to continually provide safer, higher quality, and more efficient care to patients and communities. For more than 165 years the AMA has been unwavering in its commitment to using its unique position and knowledge to shape a healthier future for America.