Tomi Akinyemiju, PhD, and Mara Becker, MD, were selected as members of the 2022-2023 class of fellows for the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) Program at Drexel University College of Medicine. Becky Smith, MD, was selected as one of the inaugural fellows for the parallel Executive Leadership in Health Care Program.
ELAM is a prestigious year-long fellowship aimed at expanding the national pool of outstanding women candidates for leadership in academic medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy. New this year, the ELH program will run concurrently with ELAM, with a tailored focus for executive health care leaders.
Dr. Akinyemiju is an Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences and Global Health, Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Population Health, and Associate Director for Community, Outreach, Engagement and Equity at Duke Cancer Institute.
Dr. Becker is a Professor of Pediatrics, Vice Chair for Faculty in Pediatrics, and a member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.
Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Duke University Hospital.
Acceptance to ELAM and ELH is highly competitive, and each applicant must be nominated by the dean or chancellor respectively and supported by their chair. There is an internal selection process at Duke, and the institution is able to select only 1-2 individuals per year to apply to the programs. Those interested in considering ELAM or ELH in the future should begin conversations with their chair early, and notify the Office for Faculty of their potential interest.
Congratulations Drs. Akinyemiju, Becker, and Smith!