The Medical Sisterhood: A Woman’s Path to Leadership in Medicine, with Laura Ferris, MD, PhD

Welcome back to The Medical Sisterhood!

In this episode of The Medical Sisterhood, host Mona Shahriari, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University, speaks with Laura K. Ferris, MD, PhD, a Clayton E. Wheeler, Jr. Distinguished Professor and chair of the University of North Carolina Department of Dermatology, about her unexpected path to departmental leadership, the lessons she has learned in her first year as chair, and her advice for women physicians navigating academic medicine.

Ferris begins by reflecting on her career evolution. Initially envisioning herself as a physician-scientist following a PhD in immunology, she quickly realized that basic science research’s high rate of failure did not provide the daily sense of accomplishment she sought. Her passion for immunology and patient impact drew her to dermatology during the pivotal era of biologic drug development. Over time, she transitioned into a clinician and clinical trialist, which opened doors to leadership. Though Ferris once stated she “never wanted to be a chair,” her growing interest in shaping departmental culture and operations ultimately led her to embrace the challenge at UNC.

One of her early “aha” moments as chair, Ferris shares, was realizing that her voice now carried new weight—her suggestions could spark tangible institutional change. She has focused heavily on improving clinical operations to enhance both patient care and provider well-being, emphasizing that better systems can reduce burnout. While the first ten months have brought curveballs—including changes in NIH funding priorities, shifting reimbursement models in a rural safety-net hospital, and access barriers for underserved patients—Ferris stresses the importance of adaptability and creative problem-solving in leadership.

Ferris discusses the art of managing faculty expectations, particularly when resources are limited. Listening tours, she notes, are invaluable for understanding what motivates individuals across career stages. While she cannot fulfill every request, she strives to offer partial solutions, flexibility, and autonomy—factors that often matter more than salary.

On advancing women in medicine, Ferris highlights her commitment to fairness and equity, often intervening behind the scenes to ensure opportunities and compensation are justly distributed. She underscores the importance of standardized policies to prevent inequities from favoring only the most vocal or “squeaky wheel” faculty. Mentorship, she adds, is essential in helping women recognize their value and advocate for themselves.

A central theme of the conversation is learning to ask—and to tolerate rejection. Ferris urges women to push past the discomfort of advocating for authorship, leadership roles, or trial involvement, reminding listeners that “the worst someone can say is no.” She also shares her decision-making framework, the “Three F’s” (fortune, fame, fun)—with some colleagues adding a fourth, family—which guides her in discerning which opportunities to accept or decline. Early in one’s career, she advises, saying “yes” often builds experience, but as responsibilities grow, strategic “no’s” become equally powerful.

Ferris closes with a message of empowerment: physicians, particularly women, are capable of more than they often believe. Balancing family, leadership, and academia is possible, and by embracing opportunities, advocating for fairness, and modeling resilience, women leaders elevate not only themselves but the entire field.

Editor’s note: This episode summary was edited with the help of artificial intelligence tools.

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