Empowering women in healthcare leadership

RCSI Graduate School of Healthcare Management's 30% Scholarship initiative

In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the need for strong, visionary leadership has never been more critical. Recognising the importance of fostering diversity and empowering women in leadership roles, RCSI has a long history of promoting participation and leadership by women in medicine and health sciences.

One of the most impactful initiatives over the last number of years has been RCSI's participation in the 30% club scholarships in partnership with PwC Ireland. This exciting scholarship programme provides fully funded scholarships to female healthcare professionals aspiring to develop their leadership skills.

The University’s Graduate School of Healthcare Management (GSM) has participated in the scheme since 2018 and offers four scholarships each year on the MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare and the Professional Diploma in Clinical Leadership.

Under the 30% Scholarship initiative, GSM offers a unique opportunity for women to gain a postgraduate award in healthcare leadership without the financial burden. This initiative not only aims to bridge the gender gap in healthcare leadership but also to cultivate a diverse cadre of female leaders who can drive positive change and innovation in the field. 

Maximum flexibility

Dr Sorca O’Brien, a recipient of the 30% scholarship and a 2023 graduate of the MSc Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare, reflects on what attracted her to the initiative: “I've always been naturally inclined to put myself forward for leadership roles, from. earlier in my medical career, being a trainee representative advocate and NCHD representative, to more recently taking the leap into being Assistant Master at the National Maternity Hospital. When I saw the ad for the 30% club, it felt like the right time, and a natural progression, to formalise these leadership skills while also learning some new techniques and understanding the business aspects of healthcare. The 30% club scholarship felt like an ideal opportunity and their goal to improve leadership positions for women in Ireland and globally really piqued my interest.”

Unfortunately, despite the vital role that women play in healthcare, they remain underrepresented in leadership positions, facing systemic barriers and inequalities GSM’s commitment to offering fully funded scholarships to women directly addresses these disparities, providing a pathway for talented individuals to overcome these barriers and ascend to senior positions where they can positively influence and drive change.

Additionally, all GSM’s courses are developed to provide maximum flexibility for students with demanding professional and personal lives and schedules. For O’Brien, this made all the difference in terms of accessibility: “The online delivery was a huge enabler for me personally. As someone with a very small baby at the time, I was able to attend a lot of the sessions and to complete the course. The University was very innovative in how the courses were developed to support people to meet together as groups and remain connected. The University understand the challenges associated with working in healthcare and was very supportive of students and flexible where possible.”

Academic excellence

Through this initiative, women applicants are not only afforded the opportunity to pursue postgraduate education in healthcare management but are also equipped with the necessary tools, resources, and support to thrive in leadership roles.  

The programme goes beyond academic excellence – it also fosters a supportive and inclusive learning environment that encourages collaboration, mentorship, and networking. Participants have access to subject matter and industry experts, and thought leaders who provide guidance, mentorship, and real-world insights into the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare leaders today.

O’Brien cites this as one of the many benefits of the programme: “One of the highlights for me was the different people that we were exposed to through the course and the guest lectures. But also, the other people in the class – you are exposed to people of different specialities, different multidisciplinary roles within the health service and you learn so much from the other students, and develop new friendships.”

Advancement of healthcare

It is fair to say, the impact of the 30% Scholarship initiative extends beyond the individual recipients. By investing in women's leadership development, GSM is contributing to the advancement of healthcare as a whole. Studies have shown that diverse leadership teams are more innovative, resilient, and effective in addressing complex healthcare challenges.

By empowering women leaders, GSM is not only promoting gender equality but also driving excellence and innovation in healthcare delivery and management. It is a testament to RCSI's unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility in healthcare education and leadership development.