Committee on Women at School of Medicine

About the committee
The Committee on Women is comprised of a group of women who are faculty, staff and students at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.  The group is appointed by the Dean and advises the Dean on issues related to women students, faculty and staff of the School of Medicine.  The diverse group of women represents the clinical, basic sciences as well as other administrative offices of the medical school.  The primary mission of the Committee on Women is to advance women’s success in medicine and science by focusing on key issues, including gender equity, recruitment and retention, awards and recognition and career advancement.

Faculty and staff members serve a three-year staggered term, while graduate and medical students serve a one-year term. 

Committee Members
Chair
Edie Goldsmith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy

Charise Bell
Director of Marketing and Communications

Nikki Campbell, MD
Assistant Professor, Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science

Talia Crawford

Joyce Dunn

Michele Easler

Mechelle English
Senior Director of Development

Rachel Hall, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Jeanette Jerrell, Ph.D.

Suzanne McDermott

Linda Moore
Legal Affairs

Lucia Pirisi-Creek, MD
Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Sadiye Rieder

Lisa Spiryda, MD, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Meeting Minutes

Summary of actions - FY 2009

October 2008 – October was the First meeting of the new members of the Committee on Women.  The Dean of the School of Medicine asked that the Committee be reconstituted and begin working.  Some of the issues the Committee first discussed were items that had been started previously and why they were successful or unsuccessful.  The members decided that since this would be a short year it would be best to pursue some presentations/discussions of interest to women and to make the Committee more visible.

November 2008 – The Committee decided on topics of interest for the “Bag Lunch” presentations:  Advancement of Women in Medicine – A panel discussion by the female chairs of the SOM;  Medicine and Family – a discussion of issues regarding stress, when to start a family, juggling responsibilities;  other topics for “Bag Lunch” presentations – dual careers, time management and professionalism.  The Committee also discussed the possibility of setting up a Mentorship program involving matching faculty with students and faculty with faculty.  The last project to be discussed is re-establishing a Committee on Women Website.

January 2009 – Dean DiPette was our special guest at this meeting.  The Dean asked the Committee to take on a Leadership role and be his eyes and ears on concerns and issues affecting women at the School.  Some of the Dean’s issues he would like to the Committee to pursue include:  Diversity both in students and faculty, tenure/promotion in regards to gender, faculty development, mentorship, and feedback on current policies and procedures concerning women.  Actions to be taken:  Develop the 1st “Bag Luncheon” panel discussion – Advancement of Women in Medicine - April, Develop the Committee on Women Website, and continue discussion of topics for next year.

Upcoming meetings

How to Discuss Issues of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexual Orientation in the Classroom
Thursday, April 8 at 3:30 pm to 5 pm
Professor Michelle Jay and Professor Danielle Holley-Walker, seminar leaders
Location: Russell House Room 305
Women’s Leadership Institute
Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students are invited
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sponsored by the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Women’s Issues
Russell House
RSVP for these events
The Mission of the Women’s Faculty Organization: To develop and sustain a community of all women faculty scholars at the University of South Carolina.
The Women’s Faculty Organization is sponsored by The Office of the Provost
Go to www.sc.edu/provost/faculty/wfo for more information

Women’s Issues Sites

• AAMC Women in Medicine Program:
• Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (AWSEM)
• American Association for Women Radiologists (AAWR)
• American Association of University Women
• American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
• Association of Women in Science
• Association of Women Surgeons (AWS)
• Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 
• International Federation of University Women (IFUW)
• National Organization for Women
• President’s Interagency Council on Women
• Small Business Administration, Office of Women’s Business Ownership
• United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women
• Women in Biology Internet Launch Page
• Women in Neuroscience
• WomenWatch, the United National Internet Gateway on the Advancement and Empowerment of Women

Women’s Health Sites

• CDC/OD Office of Women’s Health
• National Women’s Health Information Center (NWHIC)
• Society for Women’s Health Research
• Women’s Health Project

University of South Carolina Sites

• Family Friendly Policy
• Human Resources (FMLA)
  
• Women’s Faculty Organization
• Early Career Network

Meeting Schedule

• MARCH 16
• APRIL 20
• MAY 18
• JUNE & JULY – NO MEETING

All meetings are held at 4 pm, Conference Room B21, Building 1, SOM – VA Campus.

Please RSVP to Joyce Dunn, if attendance is too low the meeting may be cancelled.