The Great Debate UK
Women doctors must push for leadership roles
- Dr. Shelley Ross is Secretary-General of the Medical Women’s International Association, a non-governmental organisation representing women doctors from all continents. The opinions expressed are her own. Reuters will host a “follow-the-sun” live blog on Monday, March 8, 2010, International Women’s Day. Please tune in.-
The theme that the United Nations has chosen for the 2010 International Women’s Day is “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All.” What does this mean to women in medicine?
Certainly in the developed world, women have realized equal rights and opportunities in being admitted to medical schools. In many schools, more than 50 percent of the student population is female. Even in the developing world, we are seeing more women as medical students. These increasing numbers have pushed the social envelope where it is now acceptable to talk about balancing work and home lives.
Even beyond medical school, into residency training, there are opportunities for balancing life. Part time residencies, shared residency positions, and financial compensation for maternity leave during residency are but some examples of wishes that have become reality.
Women are seen more in the surgical specialties than before, an area once dominated by the males of the profession. The hours have improved, so that women are not eliminated strictly on the basis of availability. There are support groups for women in surgery that make women in surgery wiser and not so all alone.
We have taught women in medicine to say no to committee work and volunteer work, but rather to leave time for life outside of medicine. We encourage them to work part time.
Confronting medical issues for women
- Shelley Ross is secretary general of the Medical Women’s International Association, a non-governmental organisation representing women doctors from all continents. The opinions expressed are her own. -
The Medical Women’s International Association was created in 1919, not long after the first International Women’s Day in 1911. MWIA’s founder was an American by the name of Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy, who served as its first president. She was an obstetrician by training but an activist and humanitarian by action. Not only did she establish MWIA but she also founded the American Women’s Hospital Service during the First World War.
The motto of the Medical Women’s International Association, Matris Animo Curant, comes from Latin and translates to read, “She Heals with the Spirit of a Mother.”
From the time of Hygeia in ancient Greece to present day, women have had a significance influence on the practice of medicine.
To name three of its objectives, MWIA (1) works to overcome gender-related differences in health and healthcare between women and men throughout the world, (2) works to overcome gender related inequalities in the medical profession and (3) works to promote health for all through the world with particular interest in women, health and development.
International Women’s Day on March 8, gives us an opportunity to reflect on how we are doing with accomplishing these objectives.
I agree with shellyrose. This article is not just an individual opinion but a good summary of what we stand for.As the Nigeria’s country representative of the special interest group of MWIA will channel our activities to promote some of the issues she mentioned and the next edition of our WORTHi( Women’s Right to Health Information) publication will deal on menopause with special interest on osteoporosis,an area we seam to be overlooking.
I love what you say about women re-learning how to say yes when given the opportunity to be in decision making roles. There is so much evidence that when women and men have equal weight in decisions, they are better decisions! So we owe it to our brothers and our sisters to bring women up in the decision making ranks, because everything will be better as a result. We recently had Marie Wilson come speak at our 85 Broads event (if you’re not a member, look it up on line –21,000 smart, educated women world-wide)She gave the initial results to “The White House Project” report on women in industry and positions they hold. We have a bit of work left to do, and it takes just what you said, learn how to look for and say yes to decision making roles.!