Exceptional Executive Leadership Program for Women

by Felicia Tucker-Lively, Ph.D., M.P.H., AAL Vice President

Women today make up 50.8 percent of the U.S. population. In addition, they earn 60 percent of master’s degrees, 47 percent law degrees, 48 percent medical degrees, and account for 49 percent of the college-educated workforce.¹ While progress is being made in some areas, inequities continue to exist for women in terms of their representation in high-level executive leadership positions.² In spite of women holding more leadership positions in academic medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy than ever before, 75 to 85 percent of deans and department chairs remain men.³ Although some institutions and associations recognize the need for leadership development programs for women, additional preparation for women who aspire to leadership roles in the health professions is essential.⁴

For more than 10 years, AAL has been dedicated to advancing people and institutions through professional development and consulting services. Answering the call to assist women who aspire to leadership roles in the health professions is aligned with AAL’s mission. This year, AAL is excited to launch the Exceptional Executive Leadership Program for Women (ExcEL for Women) on October 16-18, 2016. During the 2-1/2 day competency-based developmental leadership program, participants will engage in a hands-on structured training and mentorship to enhance their personal and interpersonal leadership skills. The curriculum addresses topics critical to the growth of a high-impact leader:

• Leading with greater influence and decisiveness
• Driving innovation
• Developing strategic initiatives
• Building your professional network
• Heightening your political savvy

The ExcEL for Women facilitators are Dr. Marcia Ditmyer, a Vice President at AAL and Emerita Associate Professor for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Val Gokenbach, a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow and a Former Magnet® Commissioner; and Dr. Felicia Tucker-Lively, Director of Professional Development for AAL. During the ExcEL for Women dinner on October 16, AAL will welcome our special guest speaker Rep. Stacey Abrams, J.D., House Minority Leader for the Georgia General Assembly and State Representative for the 89th House District. She is the first woman to lead either party in the Georgia General Assembly and the first African-American to lead in the Georgia House of Representatives. Rep. Abrams will provide inspirational insights about how women can function effectively in their lives and improve their leadership skills.

The ExcEL for Women program will be held at the Château Élan Winery & Resort, just 40 minutes northeast of Atlanta. Château Élan’s resort and spa combine French provincial and Southern hospitality with the beautiful, unspoiled vistas of the North Georgia foothills and lush vineyards of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet, and Riesling grapes. See chateauelan.com for additional details.

To register for the ExcEL for Women program prior to the September 9 deadline, please go to aalgroup.org.

1. Warner J. Fact sheet: The women’s leadership gap. Center for American Progress, March 2014. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/report/2014/03/07/85457/fact-sheet-the-womens-leadership-gap/

2. Haden NK. Addressing the hidden barriers to women’s leadership. AAL Newsletter, March 2015.

3. Draugalis J, Plaza C, Taylor D, et al. The status of women in US academic pharmacy. Am J Pharm Inf 2014;78(10):178.

4. Albino J. Leadership training for women: should it be different? AAL Newsletter, March 2015.