Though parental leave is not a one-size-fits-all topic, an editorial published this week in Clinical Imaging offers encouraging advice from women leaders in radiology who have been there and done that.
“If we want to encourage more women leaders in radiology, the normalization of parental leave while being a leader is an imperative,” Aparna Singhal, MD, with the Department of Radiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and co-authors wrote.
Their detailed advice is geared specifically towards the unique obstacles female radiologists in leadership roles face when considering parental leave, and addresses those challenges head-on in the following points:
1. “Feel Empowered, not guilty.” Taking full leave after the birth or adoption of a child is an opportunity to bond with them. Caring for yourself shouldn’t merit feelings of remorse, the authors encouraged.
2. Designate temporary leadership. Discussing your role with the person or persons who will act as the leader/decision-making authority in your absence and communicating all duties thoroughly is crucial. Categorizing responsibilities and prioritizing them by order of importance and timeliness will assist the temporary leader.
3. Plan research projects ahead of time. Research projects have timelines that may not be flexible, therefore preparing as much as possible in advance is critical. If there are known documents and tasks that can be completed ahead of time, have those prepared.
4. Communicate clearly. Coworkers, supervisors and peers should be aware of exactly how communications and responsibilities will be handled—email, phone or in person. Accessibility and boundaries should be clearly determined.
5. Be realistic. Parents should be realistic with what they expect of themselves. The authors suggest taking intermittent FMLA if a full leave isn’t possible. Accounting for the time it will take to adjust to a new normal after reentering the workforce should also be considered.
6. Address microaggressions. There is a long history of documented stereotypes against mothers in the workplace. Rather than ignoring any seemingly “innocent” comments, the authors recommend addressing them head on to use them as a learning opportunity that might improve the workplace for future parents.
“Preparing for and successfully taking parental leave as a leader is an opportunity to effect change and advance workplace culture, which are fundamental goals of leadership,” the authors wrote.
You can read the full editorial in Clinical Imaging.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.