Sexual Harassment in Medicine

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently published a report on the impact of sexual harassment on the career advancement of women in academic scientific, technical, and medical fields. The report identifies key findings on the causes and impacts of sexual harassment in academia and makes recommendations to address and prevent it.

This event will include a summary of the report, discussion from the report’s co-authors, commentary from disciplinary experts, and Q&A with the audience. A reception will follow.

Welcome by Mark Schlissel, President of the University of Michigan

PANELISTS :
- Reshma Jagsi, Professor and Deputy Chair in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Michigan Medicine; Director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan

- Paula A. Johnson, President of Wellesley College; member of the National Academy of Medicine; National Academies committee co-chair and report co-author

- Timothy R.B. Johnson, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Studies, University of Michigan; member of the National Academy of Medicine; National Academies committee member and report co-author

REPORT OVERVIEW & PANEL MODERATION:
- Lilia Cortina, Associate Director of ADVANCE; Professor of Psychology, Women’s Studies, and Management, U-M; National Academies committee member and report co-author

- Anna Kirkland, Director of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender; Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Women’s Studies, U-M; National Academies committee member and report co-author

Persistent sexual harassment in STEM fields, and its adverse impacts on women’s careers, jeopardizes progress in closing the gender gap, damages research integrity, and results in a costly loss of talent. Academic sciences, engineering, and medicine share characteristics that create conditions for harassment, but many findings of the report are not limited to STEM field settings. Other fields within academia can be similarly male-dominated, hierarchical work and learning settings in which abusive cultures may form. Such environments can silence and limit the career opportunities for both the targets of the sexual harassment and bystanders, causing both men and women to leave their fields.

The panel will offer broad discussion of use to any member of the university community or the public interested in sexual harassment in academia.

Sexual Harassment in the Academy Panel Discussion Series is presented by IRWG and the Office of Research, with co-sponsorship from: ADVANCE, The Office for Health Equity and Inclusion, the College of Literature Sciences, and the Arts, and the College of Engineering

Questions or for accessibility information, please contact irwg@umich.edu or (734) 764-9537.