Alana Harper
Diversity in Aeromedicine.
Diversity: “the condition of having or being composed of many differing elements”(1).
STEMM careers, including aviation, medicine and paramedicine, are traditionally male-dominated professions. Consequently there are both overt and implicit gender biases and stereotyping that can act as barriers to women’s employment, career advancement and leadership opportunities in these professions (2,3,4).
‘Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’ accurately describes the goal of aeromedical providers when caring for patients, aiming for early, safe, optimal patient care. What impact does diversity (specifically gender diversity) have on these goals?
When your patient population is ‘anyone’ it is critical to create a workforce, leadership and governance that accurately reflects the patient group. Gender diversity in the workplace enhances innovation, engagement and cultural competency (5), and signals an attractive work environment for talent (6). Gender equity directly impacts on the psychological safety and health of our workplaces (7, 8). All these factors contribute to better quality, safer patient care. Corporations with gender diverse boards are more successful (9).
Individual ability should not be defined by gender (10). It has been shown women clinicians get better results (11, 12) and they display more collaborative leadership qualities, which positively correlate with stronger leaders (13).
Some initiatives Auckland HEMS is undertaking to overcome barriers to female career and professional advancement in aeromedicine include:
- acknowledgement (14)
- quantification of aeromedical services gender diversity in Australasia
- inclusive leadership
- re-thinking recruitment strategies
- re-thinking family friendly workplaces
- creating opportunities for career advancement, early talent identification and nurturing
- challenging a culture of ‘hypermasculinity’ and associated stereotypes
- improving visibility of women in aeromedicine; e.g. branding (15), social media, outreach to young women (STEMM careers)
- developing networking (social capital) and mentorship groups
- identifying role-models and advocates
Gender diversity should not be promoted for the sake of it. Rather it should form part of an overall strategy for aeromedical services to benefit from the many positive results a diverse workforce brings to clinical excellence and safe, high-quality clinical care.
Biography:
Dr Alana Harper is an emergency medicine specialist at Auckland City Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. She has been with Auckland HEMS and the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust for the past 8 years as a HEMS doctor, and is also the clinical lead for safety and quality. Her clinical work involves mostly helicopter and road primary missions and some inter-hospital retrieval. Alana is passionate about ensuring excellence in clinical care for all patients, and in remembering that the patient is our “why” and is at the centre of everything we do.
She is responsible for setting up the Northern Region Women in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine Network, which is forging strong networking and mentorship links for women in emergency medical services (both aeromedical and road) in the North Island of New Zealand. She also feels strongly about being a visible role-model and positive champion for young women wishing to pursue STEM careers, and for women clinicians (both medical and paramedical) wishing to pursue aeromedical careers and clinical leadership positions.
Twitter: @mini_dr