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. 2025 Aug;46(6):1608-1615.
doi: 10.1007/s00246-024-03576-9. Epub 2024 Jul 14.

A Novel Approach to Mentorship in Pediatric Cardiology: A Group for Women

Kristin Laraja  1 , Laura Mansfield  2   3   4 , Kristin Lombardi  5 , Sara Ford  5 , Lindsey Simoncini  1 , Tiffany Moore Simas  6
Affiliations

A Novel Approach to Mentorship in Pediatric Cardiology: A Group for Women

Kristin Laraja et al. Pediatr Cardiol. 2025 Aug.

Abstract

Gender disparities for female physicians in academic medicine are longstanding. Female pediatric cardiologists experience inequities in scholarship opportunities, promotion, leadership positions, and compensation. Mentorship groups have been successfully implemented in other subspecialities with promising results. We created a peer mentorship group for female pediatric cardiologists in the Northeast and completed a needs assessment survey of eligible participants. Our goal was to better understand the current challenges and identify resources to overcome these barriers. Our objectives were to (1) describe the creation of a novel mentorship program for female pediatric cardiologists and trainees in the Northeast United States, and (2) report the results of a formal needs assessment survey of all eligible participants. All female pediatric cardiology fellows and practicing pediatric and adult congenital heart disease specialists from 15 academic centers in New England were invited to join a free group with virtual meetings. A formal needs assessment survey was provided electronically to all eligible members. The vast majority of respondents agreed that the Women in Pediatric Cardiology (WIPC) group is a valuable networking and mentorship experience (90%) and would recommend this group to a colleague (95%). Members have witnessed or experienced inequities in a broad range of settings. Common challenges experienced by respondents include dependent care demands, lack of mentorship, inadequate research support, and inequitable clinical responsibilities. Resources suggested to overcome these barriers include mentorship, sponsorship, transparency in compensation, and physician coaching. Mentorship groups have the potential to address many challenges faced by women in medicine. The WIPC Northeast program provides a forum for community, collaboration, education, and scholarship.

Keywords: Gender inequity; Mentorship; Pediatric cardiology; Women in medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. Ethical Approval: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This study has been approved by the institutional committee of University of Massachusetts Medical School.

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