Admissions Process
Review and Selection Process
Selection of each class is a two-step process of careful review for academic leadership potential (judged by both individual characteristics and institutional support). Applications are distributed to a large review committee and then final selection of class members is made by the selection committee. Qualification for committee membership takes into consideration differences in geographical location of school, type of school (size, public versus private) and experience with the ELAM program. Staff members aim to draw from the breadth of the ELAM community in inviting members to the committees. New committees are selected each year.
Review committees are generally composed of ELAM alumnae, senior officials of schools of medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy, and faculty of the ELAM program. Separate review committees are determined for each of the professions of medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy. Individual rankings with narrative support are requested for consideration of each candidate's clarity of career goals, commitment to a senior administrative career, likelihood of attaining a significant institutional leadership role within the five years following enrollment into ELAM, self-awareness about her own leadership competencies, and the breadth and depth of her leadership knowledge and experience.
A single selection committee reviews all rankings and descriptive comments of candidates by referencing reports from members of the review committees. ELAM staff compile a listing of candidates, ranked by summative scores (adjusted for individual bias by z-score and reviewer differences identified by standard deviation of scores) and by review committee members' global recommendations of acceptance. Out of that listing, selection committee members identify approximately 60 fellows from medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy during a single meeting generally scheduled in March of each year.
Diversity and Class Selection
ELAM's model for development of senior-level leadership competencies requires participants from a broad range of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and institutions, to build an inclusive learning community within which they can learn from both their differences and similarities. ELAM's admissions committees consider many characteristics of candidates, including professional aspiration, achievements and challenges along their pathways to leadership, underrepresented populations in academic fields, and institutional characteristics such as geographic region, private/public status and mission focus. In addition, we strongly encourage the nomination of applicants from diverse backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, women who identify as BILPOC, LGBTQ+, first generation, military veterans and those with disabilities. The class selection is determined based on a culturally sensitive, holistic review.
Drexel University and Drexel University College of Medicine are committed to equality and do not discriminate against applicants based on their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, gender identity or expression, genetic information or status as a veteran or special disabled veteran.
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ELAM is a core program of the Institute for Women's Health and Leadership at Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa. The Institute continues the legacy of advancing women in medicine that began in 1850 with the founding of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, the nation's first women's medical school and a predecessor of today's Drexel University College of Medicine.