Encouraging More Female Applications for Fellowship: Insights from Our Survey
Posted on: Tuesday 11 February 2025
As we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, on Tuesday 11 February 2025, it is crucial to recognise and address the gender disparities that persist across scientific and medical fields – including pharmaceutical medicine.
Last year, we revised our eligibility criteria for Fellowship of FPM, welcoming 62 new Fellows. However, as we reviewed the influx of applications, a striking imbalance became clear: while our membership comprises approximately 60% men and 40% women, only 14% of applicants and nominees were women.
To understand and address this disparity, we launched a survey, sponsored by our Vice-President Dr Emma Harvey FFPM, to explore the barriers preventing women from applying for Fellowship at FPM. We have now produced a report outlining our key findings, challenges and actionable steps to foster greater inclusivity.
Foreword
by Dr Emma Harvey FFPM, Vice-President of FPM.
Work-life balance is that elusive goal that so many of us strive for and rarely achieve. It’s tough being a professional woman (and man) in Pharma; you may have multiple conflicting priorities to juggle between work, home and family life, so taking time out to apply for Fellowship of FPM may feel like just another piece of bureaucracy to do when you have a few spare minutes. Fellowship is not just more paperwork in an already busy life. Fellowship grants public recognition of your professional achievements and should not be undervalued.
Last year, the criteria for Fellowship of FPM were changed to enable a wider pool of applicants to be recognised for their professional achievements. Sadly, the proportion of women applying was just a small percentage of the eligible applicants. FPM is now trying to address this area of gender disparity, as the report below lays out.
Why am I a Fellow of FPM? For me, it’s a public statement of my experience, a reflection of my capabilities and achievements as a Pharmaceutical Physician and something to be proud of. Whatever your route into Pharmaceutical Medicine and whatever else life has thrown at you along your career path, Fellowship is a statement that you are a highly experienced professional and know what you are doing (even if it sometimes feels like you don’t!). If you are unsure whether Fellowship is for you yet, I encourage you to speak to someone at FPM, connect with another Fellow (male or female) and ask for advice. The future of FPM is through our members, and we are here to support you.
Introduction
At the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (FPM), we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where all members have the opportunity to advance their careers. In October 2024, we conducted a survey to understand the gender disparity in 2024 Fellowship applications. Despite having a membership gender mix of approximately 60% men and 40% women, only 14% of Fellowship applicants were women. Addressing this imbalance is critical to our commitment to inclusivity and ensuring equal opportunities for all members.
Survey Overview
To gain insights, we surveyed female FPM Members (MFPM), Affiliates and Associates, seeking to understand the barriers they face when considering applying for Fellowship of FPM. The survey received responses from 45 individuals and provided valuable data on the key challenges and potential solutions.
Key Findings
Barriers Identified:
- Confidence and Self-Promotion Gaps: When asked why they believed there was a gender disparity in Fellowship application, many respondents suggested that men might be more comfortable putting themselves forward for Fellowship.
- Time Constraints and Additional Responsibilities: Balancing professional and personal responsibilities was an obstacle for many respondents. Many felt that it would not be worth their time to complete the application.
- Perceived Lack of Value or Benefits: Some respondents were unsure what the benefits and value of Fellowship are. There were also misconceptions about what Fellowship is.
- Limited Guidance and Awareness: Many participants were unclear about the application process and eligibility criteria.
Systemic and Cultural Challenges:
- Networking Difficulties: Some women reported challenges in finding Fellows to support their applications.
- Perceptions of Exclusivity or Bias: While the selection process is designed to be diverse and anonymous, some respondents felt that Fellowship remained exclusive or difficult to access.
Addressing the Barriers
To help overcome these challenges, we are implementing several initiatives:
- Awareness Campaigns: We will be highlighting female Fellows and sharing their success stories to inspire potential applicants.
- Events: We will evaluate the feasibility of offering women-only networking activities at our existing events. We may additionally consider creating new networking events so women can connect, ask questions, and gain mentorship from colleagues, including current Fellows.
- Misconception of what Fellowship is: FPM Fellowship is a recognition of your professional achievement.
How to build your network: Top Tips
One of the most significant challenges identified was the difficulty in finding a Fellow to endorse applications. Here’s how you can connect with current Fellows:
- Volunteer! Joining an FPM committee or working group enriches your connection with your professional body, gives you the opportunity to contribute to our mission, and expands your professional network.
- FPM Connect: Join this platform to network with FPM members and establish meaningful relationships, including with Fellows who may be willing to support future Fellowship applications.
- Attend FPM Events: We offer a variety of in-person and virtual events which offer members opportunities to network.
- LinkedIn: Many Fellows list their FFPM postnominal on LinkedIn and are open to connecting with prospective applicants.
If you have questions about the application process, our membership team is ready to help. Simply email membership@fpm.org.uk, and visit our Fellowship page for further guidance.
