Over the years, the number of women in pharmacy has increased. They now make up about two thirds of the professionals in the industry. However, despite women being the majority of graduates in the pharmacy field, only 25per cent make it to the top, C-level positions. This is a gender gap Dr Suzanne Soliman is working to close.
Dr Soliman is a board-certified medical affairs specialist, pharmacist, trailblazer, and thought leader focused on public health, women, and leadership. She is also an author, chief academic officer for the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs, and serves on the local board of health in Bergen County, New Jersey, among other roles. In short, she's an incredibly accomplished professional as well as a mother and wife.
As a working mom in the pharmacy industry, Dr Soliman often struggled with work-life balance, as she had to work through the nights and weekends. On one particular night, she lamented for yet again missing one of her children's sports games. She knew she couldn't be the only pharmacist mom going through this, as most pharmacists are constantly working in the evenings, on weekends, and holidays. This is what motivated her to start the Pharmacist Moms Group (PhMG). In this Facebook group, women in the industry could discuss topics related to their work and other challenges they face while empowering each other.
What started as a small group of 50 of Dr Soliman's friends, colleagues, and former residents, drastically grew to more than 1,000 members in less than a month. Overwhelmed by the great response, Dr Soliman was now more determined than ever to make a change for the women in pharmacy. As it continues to grow, Pharmacist Moms Group is relentless in advocating for change in the industry. Today the group has over 35,000 active members and more than 85,000 followers, making it one of the largest organizations of women pharmacists in the United States
“There are numerous challenges women face as working moms. It's saddening to see pregnant women standing in the small pharmacy area, nine months pregnant with swollen legs and feet,” says Dr Soliman. Additionally, Dr Soliman notes the lack of places for nursing pharmacist moms to pump while at work comfortably. Together with other pharmacist moms, Dr Soliman is advocating for improvement in the working conditions of pharmacist moms, among other issues.
According to Dr Soliman, implementing these changes will take a lot of effort and determination, but it's a path they are willing to take. After all, as pharmacist moms, they know it's for the betterment of women in the industry. The group is also helping their audience learn about the different opportunities and fields in pharmacy, showing them that not all pharmacists work in a pharmacy.
One of the challenges women face in pharmacy and other industries is systematic gender bias. With gender stereotypes, the root cause lies in societal beliefs, as most people perceive men as more fitted for leadership roles. Although this is a debate far from over, with each side having a different view, research shows that more women get top leadership roles only after they have proven themselves for an extended period. To achieve change, Dr Soliman says that as much as women support each other, both men and women must work together to create awareness to end these stereotypes.
As the CAO of the ACMA, Suzanne helps to oversee the first ever Board Certification for Medical Affairs and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) professionals. The program is called the Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) program. Overall, maintaining a work-life balance as a working mom is incredibly difficult. As Suzanne and her team continue to reinvent the pharma industry, they also act as role models to other moms, no matter their industry.