The Women in Clinical Academia working group was established by the Medical Schools Council to examine barriers, real or perceived, to the career progression of women working in clinical academic medicine and dentistry. The group met for the first time on 3 March 2006. The group was chaired by Professor Deborah J. Sharp, Professor of Primary Health Care at the University of Bristol.

Stakeholders include:
The Academy of Medical Sciences, AUKUH, BMA, Dental Schools Council, COGPED, COPMeD, CRUK, Imperial College, MRC, the Medical Royal Colleges, and Universities UK.

Several workstreams formed the focus of the group's agenda:
1. Flexible training opportunities available to women and men working in clinical academic medicine and dentistry.
2. Student perceptions of a career in clinical academia.
3. International experiences of clinical academic careers.
4. Best practice in the recruitment and retention of women in clinical academia both in the UK and internationally.

Data have been gathered from across UK Medical Schools and funding bodies on the recruitment and retention of women in clinical academia. A number of focus groups were conducted across the UK's Medical and Dental Schools to assess the attitudes of students to a clinical academic career.

Final report
The group launched a report of its work in Summer 2007 with a conference at the Royal Society of Medicine. This is now available to download:

Medical Schools Council Women in Clinical Academia Report2007.pdf

Conference
A one-day conference to launch the formal report of the Medical Schools Council Women in Clinical Academia Working Group, chaired by Professor Deborah J. Sharp.

The presentations from this meeting are available to download
Women in Clinical Academia: Need for Career Planning
Professor Cynthia Pine CBE, Dean of Dental Studies, University of Liverpool

Attracting and Developing the Medical and Dental Workforce of the Future
Professor Deborah J Sharp, Chair, Women in Clinical Academia Working Group

Reflections and Role Models
Professor Yvonne Carter, Dean, Warwick Medical School

Challenges of the Feminisation of the Medical Workforce
Dame Carol Black, Chairman, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

Attracting and Developing the Medical and Dental Workforce of the Future: Putting Yourself Forward
Baroness Virginia Bottomley of Nettlestone, Chair, Odgers Ray and Berndtson, Executive Recruitment Agency

Closing Remarks
Professor Terence Stephenson, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham