Who we are

Founded in 2005, SWAP champions mentorship and leadership for female-identifying faculty, staff, trainees and allies in academic psychiatry. We work to address sex- and gender-related inequities through advocacy, education and community-building. All who support SWAP's mission are welcome. 

What we do

SWAP provides year-round opportunities to connect, learn and grow together. Such activities include:

  • Fall Welcome & Reconnection: Brings together new and returning participants (faculty, staff, trainees and allies) for meaningful dialogue and shared goal setting. 
  • Grand Rounds Speaker Series: Features thought leaders exploring the intersections of gender, identity and equity in academic medicine and mental health. 
  • Trainee Workshop: Offers practical guidance for navigating academic and clinical training, with a focus on negotiation, mentorship and well-being. 
  • Faculty Forum: Creates space for honest conversations around promotion, work-life integration, and challenges faced by women and gender-diverse faculty, supported by allies. 

Get involved!

We welcome all members of the department, including those who identify as allies, to join our efforts. For more information or to get involved, please contact:

Puja Chadha, M.D.
Puja Chadha, M.D.
SWAP Co-Chair
plchadha­@ucdavis.edu

On the topic

UC Davis faculty contributed to or authored the following articles on the topic of women in academic psychiatry.


Women in Academic Psychiatry: Inequities, Barriers, and Promising Solutions
Published February 2, 2021

Marcy Forgey Borlik, Sarah M. Godoy, Paula M. Wadell, Lidija Petrovic-Dovat, Consuelo C. Cagande, Aditi Hajirnis & Eraka P. Bath


Society for Women in Academic Psychiatry: A Peer Mentoring Approach

Note: Access to this article is subscription based. If you are affiliated with UC Davis, you can log in and read it at no cost.
Published January 10, 2014
Andreea L. Seritan M.D., Robinder Bhangoo M.D., Sylvia Garma Ph.D., Jane DuBé L.C.S.W., Ju Hui Park Ph.D. & Robert Hales M.D., M.B.A.

This article discusses the establishment of the Society for Women in Academic Psychiatry (SWAP) at UC Davis and the novel approach of junior women faculty providing peer support, mentoring and collaborative events to help improve recruitment, retention and the climate for women in academic psychiatry.