Meetings & Events
Previous Meetings & Events
AMWA's 96th Annual Meeting
AMWA's 96th Annual Meeting was held on March 31-April 3, 2011 in Arlington, VA, in conjunction with the 19th Annual Congress on Women's Health. The meeting presented wonderful opportunities to network, mentor and collaborate on women's health issues and the advancement of women in medicine. If you were unable to attend this year's meeting, here are some of the highlights!
The meeting opened with AMWA's Annual Advocacy Day, held in partnership with Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health. The main issue focused on Title X funding, the federal grant program for family planning and reproductive health services for low-income and uninsured patients. In, Attendees participated in a two hour training session where they learned how to advocate on Title X and shared stories from patients prior to meeting with legislators on the Hill.
Meeting attendees also enjoyed high quality CME sessions provided by the Congress, including topics such as reproductive health, cardiovascular health in women, controversies in mammography, obesity management, memory disorders, cervical cancer screening, and osteoporosis management - and a special session with Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin. AMWA distributed 5000 patient education brochures on Vitamin D, which were developed in partnership with the Bone and Joint Decade and Healthy Women, a nonprofit organization serving as the nation's leading independent health information source for women. (Take the Healthy Women Survey found later in this issue of NewsFlash to help us develop future patient education materials.)
AMWA also held its second annual Networking Alliance meeting, bringing together over twenty professional organizations dedicated to advancing women in medicine. This year's meeting focused on gender equity and featured presentations by AMWA's Gender Equity Co-chair, Dr. Linda Brodsky and renowned speaker, Sara Laschever, author of Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide.
AMWA's signature event is the Awards Gala. This year, AMWA's Presidential Award was presented to two exceptional women who have been integral in bringing women's health issues to the forefront: Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, Surgeon General, Vice Admiral USPHS and Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Additional women honored at the Gala included: Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD- Elizabeth Blackwell Award; Katherine Wisner, MD, MS- Women in Science Award; Saralyn Mark, MD-Lila A. Wallis Award; Beatrice Sachs, MD (posthumously)- Bertha Van Hoosen Award; Adrienne Clark- Anne C. Carter Leadership Award; Sarah Hagy- Camille Mermod Award.
Dr. Mary Guinan was welcomed as the new President of AMWA and Dr. Eliza Chin was thanked for her service to the organization throughout her presidency and tenure on the Board. AMWA also welcomed new members of the Board including: Dr. Gayatri Devi, Incoming President, Dr. Ana Maria Lopez, Secretary, Dr.'s Eleni Tousimis, Suzanne Harrison, and Kelli Cohen Fein as Directors and the new National Student President, Adrienne Clark.
AMWA continues to provide members with opportunities to network, develop, collaborate, learn, and gain recognition for their contributions to medicine. For 96 years, AMWA members have lead the charge to promote gender equity in the field of medicine and to promote the unique needs of women's health care.
Special thanks to The Dorskin Family Fund, PRN Media Health, Mary Ellen Morrow Photography and Morgan Stanley for their Annual Meeting support! Check out and order pictures from the Annual Meeting here!
AMWA represented at the 55th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations
(standing left to right) Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, Dr. Shelley Ross, Professor Afua Hesse, Dr. Claudia Morrissey, Dr. Padmini Murthy and Dr. Satty Keswani. (seated) UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet.
The Medical Women's International Association (MWIA), AMWA, and the National Council of Women USA co-sponsored a parallel event during the 55th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations. The session, entitled "Medicine: The Pink Collar Profession," was organized by Dr. Padmini Murthy and Dr. Satty Keswani, MWIA NGO Representatives to the United Nations). Speakers included Dr. Shelley Ross (MWIA Secretary General, Canada), Professor Afua Hesse (MWIA President, Africa), Dr. Eliza Chin (AMWA President), Dr. Gail Beck (MWIA Treasurer, Canada), Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi (Past President Nigerian Medical Women's Association), Dr. Kimberly Templeton (President, Bone and Joint Decade and AMWA Board Member), Ms. Mary Singletary (President, National Council of Women USA), Dr. Claudia Morrissey (MWIA Vice-President North American), and Dr. Mercedes Viteri (MWIA Vice-President Latin America). Other AMWA members in attendance included Dr. Linda Brodksy, Dr Roberta Gephard, and Dr. Joyce Braak.
During the CSW, AMWA leaders met with UN Women, Executive Director Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile and pediatrician; Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, internationally renowned author, psychiatrist; and activist who is calling for a UN sponsored 5th World Conference on Women (5WCW); Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, past-president of the Kenya Medical Women's Association and the Kenyan Ambassador to the U.N.
A highlight of the CSW was the launch event for UN Women, Honouring the Past - Envisioning the Future for Women and Girls, which was hosted by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women. The program of distinguished speakers also included CNN Founder Mr. Ted Turner, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Princess Cristina of Spain, Actresses Geena Davis and Nicole Kidman, news anchor JuJu Chang, and many more. To watch the UN Women Launch, please visit, http://www.unwomen.org/calendar-of-events/?event_id=5.
To read more on the following addresses please click on the links provided:
A Message from First Lady Michelle Obama on Childhood Obesity
As we've tackled childhood obesity over the past year, we've realized again and again that this is not a stand-alone issue. It's bound up in every issue we face - from health care to education to the way our cities are designed. There's no one, single answer that will fix it, no magic bullet. So we knew that if we're going to solve this problem in a generation - and we are - we'd need to come at it from every direction...
Health care providers directly impact the health of our children. They have the opportunity to make a real difference in solving the problem of childhood obesity. Each encounter is an opportunity to help families understand the importance of good nutrition and physical activity-from their earliest moments of life until adulthood. Let's Move! is strengthened by the individual efforts of all providers, but even more so when they work with patients and families, in clinics, practices, homes, schools and neighborhoods to achieve the goal of a healthier lifestyle.
First Lady Michelle Obama
Help support this initiative by educating your patients about the prescription for healthy living. www.letsmove.gov. Please send related stories or photos to amwahelper@gmail.com.
AMWA Hour
The AMWA Hour, hosted by PRN Media Health, covers topics important to women in medicine. Check out archives of the the five hour series here.
Achieving Gender Equity for Women Physicians: A Prescription for Success-Tuesday, January 25
Missed the webinar? Listen here!
Presenters Roberta E. Gebhard, DO and Linda Brodsky, MD for this complimentary webinar, moderated by Joyce Braak, MD and Vidushi Babber, MD. Learn more about the presenters below.
Roberta E. Gebhard, DO is a family practice physician with many years of experience as an educator. She is currently working at WCA Hospital in Jamestown. NY as a Hospitalist, as well as Jamestown Convenience Care, as an urgent care physician. Gender Equity has been a focus of research and advocacy throughout her career, and she is co-chair with Dr. Brodsky of the Gender Equity Task Force of the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), as well as being on the Board of Directors of AMWA. She also serves on the medical school admissions committee at SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Linda Brodsky, MD is a respected pediatric surgeon with over 30 years of experience in the field of otolaryngology. In addition to running a thriving medical practice, Dr. Brodsky is an advocate and mentor for the next generation of women doctors. Her organization, Expediting the Inevitable, fights for gender equity in healthcare.
Work Life Challenges for Women Physicians- Going Beyond Balance- Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Although many women physicians say the find their work gratifying, they remain frustrated when it comes to integrating their work with their lives. The lines between a professional career and private life often are blurred, leaving many female physicians, tired, frustrated and wondering how they are going to manage everything. Missed the webinar? Enjoy complimentary access to the recording here.
Presenter:
Neelum Aggarwal, MD
Moderator:
Vidushi Babber, MD
Vision 2020: An American Conversation about Women and Leadership
AMWA leaders Dr. Doris Bartuska (Past President), Dr. Linda Brodsky (Gender Equity Co-Chair), Dr. Eliza Chin (President), Dr. Elinor Christiansen (Past President), and Dr. Roberta Gebhard (Board Member & Gender Equity Co-Chair), and were recent Ambassadors to Vision 2020: An American Conversation about Women and Leadership, Drexel University School of Medicine's extraordinary assembly of women leaders at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. A ten-year project, Vision 2020 aims to complete the unfinished business of women's equality by August 26, 2020, the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.
During the 2-day period, 1400 participants participated in a series of conversations on the following topics: Business, Law, & Finance; Health; Engineering, Science, & Technology; Communications & Media; Education; Philanthropy, Faith, & Volunteerism; Arts & Culture; and Politics & Government. Read the full story here.
Mentoring Webinar- Thursday, September 30, 2010
Member Feedback: I "attended" the webinar on mentoring last night and really enjoyed it. In fact, I asked my secretary to order Ms. Stutts' book and talked to a colleague about her as well. I was very impressed and got a lot out of it. Thanks to AMWA for making these webinars possible.- Nicole Sandhu, MD, PhD
The Missing Mentor: Women Advising Women on Power, Progress and Priorities- Mary Stutts - Senior Vice President of Elan Pharmaceuticals, author, speaker- read Ms. Stutts' bio here.
Mentoring: A Useful Tool for Your Professional Toolkit- Luanne Thorndyke, MD, FACP - Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS). Read Dr. Thorndyke's bio here.
Check out the presentation here.
**Note** Slides from this webinar are from Mary E. Stutts and Dr. Luanne Thorndyke, respectively. To be used with acknowledgement of authorship and for educational purposes only.
This is the first in a series of four webinars, prepared by the American Medical Women's Association and hosted by Doctors for America -- for members of a networking alliance of medical organizations. Participating organizations include: American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Women's Health Physicians, American Medical Association - Women Physicians Congress, American Medical Women's Association, Association of Women Psychiatrists, American Medical Student Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Association of American Medical Colleges, Doctors for America, National Physicians Alliance, PRN Media Health, and RENEW.
AMWA Interim Board Meeting- September 25-26, 2010
Philadelphia, PA
The AMWA Board of Directors convened for their Annual Interim Board Meeting at AMWA Headquarters in Philadelphia. The group worked to identify the goals of the organization for the coming years. Members can look forward to more programs relating to fellowship, leadership opportunities and advancing the health of women through policy and education.
Women in Medicine Reception Friday, September 24- Drexel University College of Medicine with Screening of CARE's Half the Sky
Philadelphia area members and constituents gathered at Drexel University College of Medicine for the ribbon cutting ceremony for AMWA's permanent exhibit. Pictures will be available soon. If you were unable to make the reception, you can support AMWA's permanent exhibit by donating to the Legacy Fund today!
Medical Women's International Association 2010 Annual Meeting
By Jean Fourcroy, MD, PhD, MPH
The Medical Women's International Association (MWIA) is an important international meeting to attend. MWIA was founded in October 21, 1919 when women doctors were the minority. A recent history of MWIA (History of the Medical Women's International Association) has been written by Dr. Dorothy Ward and is well worth reading. The story reminds us of the importance of Esther Lovejoy, the first president of MWIA. Esther Pohl Lovejoy was a physician, public health pioneer, suffrage activist, and a central figure in early efforts to organize international medical relief work. More of this history can be found on the AMWA website thanks to Dr. Anne Barlow Ramsay.
The 28th International Congress was held in Muenster, Germany, a delightful city to visit and wander, but none of us had that much time. Essentially the city hasn't been rebuilt since the 1940's. The town hall (rathaus) and the Citizen's Hall (Buergerhalle) was a delight to visit. This was the site when in 1648 the Peace of Westphalia was concluded. Although some members took bus tours, most of us depended on accompanying friends and relatives to do the sightseeing.
The AMWA delegates to the MWIA Congress included: Eliza Chin MD, MPH (AMWA President), Claudia Morrissey, MD, MPH (MWIA VP for North America), Diana J. Galindo, M.D.; Satty Gill Keswani, M.D. Padmini (Mini ) Murthy MD, MPH, MS; and Jean L Fourcroy, M.D. PhD., MPH. These delegates made six presentations with topics ranging from health care, violence, dementia, smoking and the health of athletes. The keynotes, short sessions and posters were all excellent. Key issues addressed were: gender strategies, adolescent sexuality, gender based war violence, addiction, plague and nutrition. More information can be found on the conference website. The results of the General Assembly meetings will be available on the MWIA web site.
It's not too early to plan ahead for the 29th International Congress of MWIA to be held in Korea in 2013.
References:
Congress 2010 - http://www.mwia2010.net/
MWIA - http://mwia.webtop.de/
AMWA- http://www.amwa-doc.org/page3-9/AMWAHospitalService
Dorothy Ward - History of the Medical women's International Association. - Fledging Press 2010
2010 Annual Meeting- AMWA's 95th Anniversary Meeting!
March 25-28, 2010- Washington DC
Click here to see photos from the 2010 Annual Meeting or upload your own photos.
The 95th Anniversary AMWA Annual Meeting was a phenomenal success. Held in conjunction with the 18th Annual Women's Health Congress, there were over 1,000 joint attendees and a schedule packed with outstanding CME lectures by leading clinical experts. On Advocacy Day, AMWA partnered with Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health and together met with over 70 legislative offices on Capitol Hill to advocate for the passage of health care reform and women's reproductive health.
A highlight for all was AMWA's 95th Anniversary Gala during which AMWA award winners and new inductees to the International Women in Medicine Hall of Fame were honored. Special guests included 13 past presidents, former Executive Director Eileen McGrath, past Director of Special Programs Marie Glanz, and Dr. Kavita Patel, former Director of Policy for the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. Keynote speaker, Dr. Vivian Pinn, challenged us all to envision the future of women's health and women as physicians and to work together to make that vision a reality. The evening culminated in the unveiling of the Woven Word Quilt, a symbolic representation by AMWA students of our collective hopes for healthcare reform.
