I. Mission

Despite the extraordinary progress women have made in medicine over the last 150 years, there continues to be a pressing need for female role models and mentors, as well as increased study of women's health issues. Since 1915, the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) has been working to address these issues by serving as the voice of women's health and the advancement of women in medicine. The American Medical Women's Association Resident Division (AMWA RD) recognizes that the years of a resident's education, training and early career are those of excitement, challenge and anxiety. The AMWA RD empowers women resident physicians to lead in improving health for all within a model that reflects the unique perspective of women while advancing academically and personally during their training years.

II. Vision

Dear AMWA Member,

It is our great honor to announce the newest addition to the 98 year old AMWA lineage! In March of 2010, the Resident Division (RD) of the AMWA was founded! The AMWA RD recognizes that the years of a resident's education, training and early career are those of excitement, challenge and anxiety. The AMWA RD hopes to empower women resident physicians to lead in improving health for all within a model that reflects the unique perspective of women while advancing academically and personally during their training years.

We would like to invite you to become a resident member of the oldest and largest women's multispecialty organization of the healthcare professionals worldwide. With physician AMWA branches throughout the United States and student branches in schools of medicine and osteopathy throughout the country, AMWA, the Vision and Voice of Women in Medicine since 1915, presents a distinctive opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in medicine whilst taking an active role in our future.

We hope you will join in this illustrious tradition and become part of an AMWA community that spans decades. The AMWA RD will provide Resident Members with professional support, friendship and collegiality, access to mentoring, professional recognition, career and leadership development, and a highly respected Annual Meeting. The AMWA RD will also be offering "AMWA Resident Quarterly" as a way to keep physician-in-training members up-to-date with the advocacy, medical advances and opportunities that interest women in medicine and their families. One of our prized incentives within this publication will be a "Dear Mentor" article written by accomplished mentors to specifically address issues pertaining to concerns of resident members. In addition, the AMWA RD seeks to support its resident physicians by providing opportunities to access the unique knowledge and experiences of other female physicians, who can offer advice on education, future career and networking opportunities across the country through our "Charlotte Maguire MD" mentorship program. Not only does the AMWA RD seek to support our physician-in-training members by providing publication, leadership and career advancement opportunities, but also provides access to advice on the unique social issues facing women in medicine such as: lifestyle balance, motherhood, and protecting personal time. We will be catering these topics in our "Women in Medicine Resident Guide."

The AMWA RD membership fee is one-time $100 fee for all years of training. Unlike other national organizations, you will not pay more if you are pursuing a longer residency. Additionally, your AMWA membership fee/donation is tax deductible as a charitable gift or business expense. To join now or for more information, please visit our website at: www.amwa-doc.org

As residents ourselves, we are excited to see that women have advanced towards parity in medical school admissions, though female doctors still face unique challenges such as balancing work and family. Furthermore, studies comparing compensation of men and women still find significant differences in salary, rank, clinical activities, work assignments, and other measures of productivity and achievement. AMWA is a multispecialty organization that brings women together from all fields to share their experiences and provides leadership opportunities to assist women physicians to excel in future endeavors. This has been invaluable to us, and we believe it will be for you as well.

For 98 years, the real benefit of AMWA membership has always been our programs and the personal and professional support AMWA provides to members. We look forward to you joining us as we continue this legacy.

Kindest regards,

 

Mary E. Romero, MD
AMWA Resident President