The Critical Care Commute Podcast Gender-Based Harassment in the Medical Workplace: Insights from Dr. Elizabeth Viglianti
Apr 30, 2025
Dr. Elizabeth Viglianti, an assistant professor and critical care specialist at the University of Michigan, shares her expertise on gender-based harassment in the medical field. She recounts her personal experiences that fueled her passion for this vital topic. The conversation delves into the prevalence of harassment and its impact on professional dignity, especially for women. Dr. Viglianti discusses systemic barriers in reporting and highlights recommendations for creating a more equitable and supportive environment in medicine.
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Viglianti's Personal Harassment Experience
- Dr. Elizabeth Viglianti experienced inappropriate sexual remarks from a patient but initially brushed it off.
- This sparked her interest in studying patient-perpetrated sexual harassment in medicine.
Organizational Harassment Risk Factors
- Sexual harassment is more likely in male-dominated, hierarchical, and isolated training environments with organizational tolerance.
- Medicine's structure matches these risk factors, contributing to its harassment issues.
Combat Harassment with Systemic Changes
- To reduce harassment, diversify hiring and retention, create mentorship committees, shift to egalitarian leadership, and establish transparent reporting systems.
- Institutions must make reporting accessible and hold offenders accountable.