Advancing Women in Academic Medicine

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Brochure Cover entitled Rudi Ansbacher Advancing Women in Academic Medicine Leadership Scholars Program. Group photos of past participants and a photo of Rudi and his wife are featured on a purple and blue background

Rudi Ansbacher Advancing Women in Academic Medicine Leadership Scholars Program

This intensive 18-month leadership development program was initially designed to accelerate the development of women for senior positions in academic medicine and healthcare. It is open to all in leadership roles who have a demonstrated commitment to supporting the advancement of women. Because the Medical School strongly believes that this commitment is a universal responsibility, and that leadership development is most effective in an inclusive and diverse environment, we encourage nominations of individuals of all genders. The program will provide leaders with insight into their leadership strengths and opportunities, allowing for greater self-awareness, growth, development, and success.

The program is designed in partnership with U-M Medical School, Linkage, Inc., and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Program Highlights

  • 14 days of immersion workshops over approximately 18 months
  • Executive leadership coaching
  • Action learning, reading, and related assignments
  • Ongoing development planning
  • Exposure to and participation in committees and projects
  • Preparation for future challenges and advancement
  • Entrance to the Leadership Summit for Women in Academic Medicine and Healthcare

We are very proud of the impact that this program has had for our scholars. Program participants reported an increase in self-efficacy, ability to understand and navigate complex systems, and their ability to drive change and innovation. Additionally, within 5 years of participation, 53% of participants received a promotion in rank, and 44% held a leadership position.

Program Objectives

The curriculum focuses on developing four fundamental and four differentiating competencies. Each of these competencies is refined through phases: preparing for leadership, transitioning into leadership, sustaining success in leadership, and transitioning again into new leadership positions.

Fundamental Competencies

  • Understanding and navigating complex systems
  • Building and leveraging networks
  • Aligning and driving vision
  • Driving change and innovation

Differentiating Competencies

  • Self-efficacy
  • Political savvy
  • Personal and professional growth
  • Building communities of practice

Program Details and Cost

  • The seventh cohort of the Ansbacher Program will begin in October 2025 and end in April 2026. Final dates for the remainder of the program will be shared at the time of program application.
  • The program cost is $10,000 per non-University of Michigan affiliate. Tuition is complimentary for University of Michigan affiliates.

Nominations

Nominations for 2025 are open. 

Nominations of a potential candidate by their leader are due by July 19, 2024. Please note nominations must be made from a desktop or laptop (not a mobile device).

Selected nominees will be invited to complete a formal application for the program.

For more information about this program, please contact Whitney Williams in Faculty Development at whitnwil@umich.edu.

Nominate a leader →

Qualifications

Faculty Nominees: Applicants must hold the rank of associate or full professor in a medical, dental, or health sciences school or health-related field, and have had a significant leadership role.

Applicants must be nominated by the dean of their institution, their departmental chair, or the chief executive officer of their academic health center. If the nomination comes from the CEO, please provide a secondary nomination from the school of primary academic appointment. We strongly suggest that each applicant discusses their application with their nominator before applying.

Administrative Nominees: Applicants must hold a significant leadership role (such as senior administrator, CEO, COO, CIO, CMO, etc.) in a medical, dental, nursing, or public health school, or academic hospital/health system, and have had administrative experience in personnel and budget management.

The program is open to all leaders, regardless of gender, who have demonstrated a commitment to supporting the advancement of women. The Medical School strongly encourages nominations of individuals of all genders.

Special consideration will be given to those nominees designated as Emerging Leaders with demonstrated leadership capacity who are in a significant leadership role. Applicants must be nominated by the dean of their institution, their departmental chair, or the chief executive officer of their academic health center.

Application

Once the nomination process is completed, selected nominees will be invited to complete a formal application for the program. Applicants must provide a short essay of no more than 750 words to describe their qualifications, goals for attending the program, and institutional support. 

Related U-M Programs

The ADVANCE Program aims to improve the University of Michigan’s campus environment in:

  • Recruitment: Development and use of equitable recruiting practices.
  • Retention: Preemptive strategies to prevent the loss of valued faculty.
  • Climate: Improvement of departmental climate.
  • Leadership: Support for development of leadership skills and opportunities as well as on support for development of skills among all academic leaders.

Find programs and other resources of interest to women faculty and other under-represented groups on the ADVANCE website.