LAUSR

Women leaders and scientists have made significant contributions to laboratory medicine. Notably, 2 women, Mary H. McKenna and Miriam Reiner, were among the 9 founders of AACC in 1948; however, women in clinical chemistry still encounter biases and microaggressions. A concern is how these obstacles impact women’s progression through their career. Representation of women in leadership positions is low, and many women experience gender bias. Thus, there is still work to be done to address the challenges women face in their careers in medicine. Listening to stories and learning from the insights of our colleagues is a powerful medium to motivate change. The experts and moderator in this Q&A presented a panel titled “Diversity and Inclusion: Women in Laboratory Medicine” at the 2021 AACC Annual Meeting. The conversation with the panelists was focused on the challenges they have faced as women and as racial and ethnic minorities in laboratory medicine. The panel opened up the conversation about these topics that are often not discussed even though many of us share these experiences. In this Q&A, 4 incredible and accomplished women in clinical chemistry discuss how biases impact the careers of women, the care of patients, and how we can mobilize to ensure an inclusive and equitable future.