Training Future Healthcare Advocates for Women

March 6, 2025

Future healthcare leaders must do more than treat symptoms—they must champion equity. Discover how educators at Adtalem are shaping the next generation of women’s health advocates.

Healthcare education is evolving to ensure future professionals are not only equipped with clinical knowledge but also the skills to advocate for equitable treatment. As medicine continues to progress, educators in medical and nursing schools have a unique responsibility to shape future leaders who can address the disparities faced by women patients.

In alignment with the 2025 theme of Women’s History Month—Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations—this work is a testament to the collective strength and influence of women in mentorship, leadership and education. By integrating patient advocacy into the curriculum, educators empower students to recognize biases, close healthcare gaps and champion equitable care for all women.

Advocacy is Crucial in Women’s Healthcare

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) State of Women in Academic Medicine found that while women now make up more than half of medical school enrollees, they remain underrepresented in leadership positions and specialized fields where advocacy is crucial.

This imbalance underscores the urgent need to train the next generation of healthcare professionals to recognize these challenges and actively work toward addressing them because women continue to experience disparities in healthcare access, diagnosis and treatment.

At Adtalem Global Education, Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) and American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) graduated over 400 women in the 2023-2024 academic year—more than five times as many as the average for U.S. medical schools. Walden University is the top ranked academic institution in granting research doctoral degrees to women.

Medical and nursing educators have the unique opportunity to instill a culture of advocacy in their students by emphasizing patient-centered care, fostering critical thinking and encouraging mentorship.

How Educators Can Prepare Students to Advocate for Women Patients

To ensure that the next generation of healthcare professionals is prepared to advocate for women patients, educators at Adtalem’s institutions shared how to integrate advocacy into medical and nursing training. Here are their key strategies to develop strong, patient-focused professionals:

Expand Training on Reproductive and Preventative Health

Dr. Hedda Dyer is chair and professor in the Department of Clinical Foundations at RUSM. She’s also a surgeon and a public health physician with a research focus on breast oncological surgery and remains active in communities globally to educate about early detection and diagnosis for breast cancer.

Women’s healthcare needs span a wide range of specialties, from cancer to reproductive health; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women.

If we fail to educate our students on healthcare issues specific to women, we are failing half of our patient population. A well-rounded physician must understand the full spectrum of women’s healthcare needs to provide comprehensive, culturally competent patient-centered care.

Medical and nursing programs should include comprehensive training on gender-specific conditions, she adds, ensuring that future healthcare providers are well-versed and advocate for access to preventive care and specialized treatments that positively impact women’s long-term health outcomes, as well as serving to close the gap in gender healthcare disparities.

Incorporate Gender-Specific Research into the Curriculum

As a researcher on studies addressing why Black mothers experience inferior care, Dr. Jamil Norman, has spent her career determined to advance the body of evidence in pregnancy-related health disparities among Black women. She also educates the next generation of nurses in Walden University’s BSN program. The curriculum at Walden is embedded with teachings on the social determinants of health and the role of nurses in mitigating health disparities.

Historically, medical research has focused predominantly on male subjects, leaving gaps in the understanding of women’s health conditions. Educators should include discussions on gender disparities in research and train students to advocate for inclusive clinical trials.

In Fighting for Dignity in the Black Maternal Health Crisis, Dr. Norman talks about the staggering statistics and personal experiences that drive her to improve maternity care.

Promote Mentorship and Leadership in Women’s Health Advocacy

Dr. Maria Jose Navarrete Talloni, assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, is a champion for mentorship among younger generations.

Maria Jose Navarrete Talloni, RUSVM faculty

Mentorship plays a key role in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. Programs that connect students with women leaders in medicine can provide valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities in advancing women’s healthcare equity.

Dr. Navarrete is also a board member and mentor for 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures, a nonprofit organization from the New York Academy of Sciences that connects STEM-focused high school girls to dynamic, motivated female mentors during a year-long virtual science education program.

Teach Active Listening and Patient-Centered Care

Women’s health concerns are sometimes minimized, leading to delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment. Educators can emphasize the importance of active listening skills in their training programs, ensuring that students learn to validate patient concerns and build trust.

Dr. Naira Chobanyan, professor of clinical medicine at AUC, helps develop students’ clinical skills in the classroom.

Active listening is one of the foundations of good medical practice. We teach our students that validating a patient’s concerns is just as important as the treatment itself. When women feel heard, they are more likely to receive timely and effective care.