Credit: Digital Film Work
Submitted by Dr. Eliza Chin, AMWA Executive Director
The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) was honored to host the Centennial Congress of the Medical Women’s International Association at the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott. Over 1200 delegates and attendees from more than 50 Countries were represented,with more than 140 speakers and more than 270 scientific posters.
The energy, camaraderie, and friendship within this international gathering of medical women was visibly palpable.
UN EVENT AND OPENING RECEPTION
The Congress launched on Thursday, July 25, 2019 with a special United Nations side event, “Women’s Health: Building Blocks for Sustainable Development Goals” in sponsorship with the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, and The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Distinguished speakers included H.E. Pennelope A. Beckles, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations; Satya Rodrigo, Charge’d’affairs a.i Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations; Dr. Chantal Line Carpentier, head of UNCTAD; Dr. Vanessa Kerry, CEO of Seed Global Health; NASA Scientist Dr. Camille Wardrop Alleyne; Carlos Garcia, Former Ambassador of El Salvador to the UN; Simone Monesabian, head of UNODC; Dr. Jillian Farmer, Director of the Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health at the UN; activist and writer Ruchira Gupta; author and philanthropist David Roosevelt (grandson of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt). The event was organized by Dr. Padmini Murthy, MWIA Vice President of North America. View the video recording.
Regional meetings and dinner were held at the St. Francis College as colleagues from the eight MWIA regions gathered to reconnect and plan for the upcoming triennium.
The Opening Reception featured beautiful performances by Dr. Mary Rorro, who composed the MWIA Centennial Theme Song, and singer, guitarist Tessany Azizi as well as an amazing story slam hosted by Elizabeth Métraux, Founder of Women Writers in Medicine and featuring Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, Dr. Heather Furnas, Dr. Oneeka Williams, and Dr. Arghavan Salles.
Music gave way to dancing, and later in the evening, attendees tapped into their creative selves through AMWA’s annually hosted paint night.
Credit: Africa Photo Communications
OPENING CEREMONY AND PLENARIES
Credit: Mary Ellen Morrow Photography
Credit: Mary Ellen Morrow Photography
Credit: Mary Ellen Morrow Photography
Credit: Mary Ellen Morrow Photography
BREAKOUT TRACKS
Credit: Digital Film Work
Three breakout tracks included scientific sessions on global health, gender equity, work-life balance, violence against women, women’s health, leadership and professional development, maternal health, healthcare innovation, obesity, sexual harassment, sex and gender specific medicine, and women physicians as ambassadors of change. Workshops and special sessions allowed a deeper dive into topics on graduate medical education, lesbian and transgender health, professional development, gender bias, presentation skills, social media, Native American healthcare, burnout, work-life balance, and mental health. MWIA was also honored to welcome Dr. Gigi Osler, President of the Canadian Medical Association and great great grandniece of Sir William Osler.
View the digital program book, photos, and videos (coming soon!)
CENTENNIAL GALA
The Centennial Gala honored women physicians in uniformed service from around the world as well as newly inducted AMWA fellows. Performances included global premieres of Barbara Callandar’s play Women Doctors: Unite to Heal the World! and Sarah Partridge’s song “Courage is a Woman,” both of whom told the inspiring story of MWIA’s first president, Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy. A mesmerizing sand art show by Ha Jun Kim from Korea and dance performances by member associations from around the world concluded a truly remarkable evening.
CLOSING PLENARIES, AWARDS, AND CLOSING CEREMONY
Credit: Mary Ellen Morrow Photography
Closing plenary speakers included Dr. Kate Prior on imposter syndrome, Dr. Florence Manguyu on MWIA’s role in global health, Dr. Suzy Feigofsky on physician burnout, and Rebekah Apple on trust and communication in healthcare. The closing Awards Ceremony honored the following luminaries in healthcare (read details about the MWIA and AMWA Awardees):
- MWIA Honorary Members:
- Dr. Cisca Griffioen (Northern Europe)
- Dra. Rebeca Kuniyoshi (Latin America)
- Dr. Bettina Pfleiderer (Central Europe)
- Dr. Usha Saraiya (Central Asia)
- Dr. Christiane Pouliart (Southern Europe)
- Dr. Shafika Nasser (Near East and Africa)
- Dr. Satty Gill Keswani (North America)
- Dr. Bong Ok Kim (Western Pacific)
- Dr. Robyn Hewland (Individual Member)
- MWIA Member of Honour: DAK Foundation (Australia)
- MWIA Lovejoy Scholarship: Dr. Dabota Yvonne Buowari
- MWIA Golden Jubilee Members:
- AMWA Presidential Awards – Jessica Posner Odede, Dr. Sandra Gold, TIME’S UP Healthcare
- AMWA Larry Zaroff Award – Dr. Johannes W. Vieweg
- AMWA Elizabeth Blackwell Award – Dr. Alma Littles
- AMWA Women in Science Award – Dr. Natalie Afshari
- AMWA Bertha Van Hoosen Award – Dr. Kimberly Templeton
- AMWA Lila Wallis Women’s Health Award – Dr. Susan G. Kornstein
- AMWA Camille Mermod Award – Danielle K. Carrier
- AMWA Anne C. Carter Leadership Award – Julia Festa
- AMWA Artist in Residence – Dr. Somalee Banerjee
- AMWA Resident Division Awards – Dr. Chung-Sang Tse, Dr. Emman Dabaja, Dr. Fatima Fahs, Dr. Amanda Xi, and Dr. Brit Trogen
- Medical Student Division Awards – Reid Mergler, Michelle Benedict, Madeline DeWane, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, and Tannaz Safari
- Premedical Student Division Awards – Lara Rostomian, Nora Galoustian, Evelyn Somogyl, Felicia Reid, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Michigan
POSTER WINNERS
The following posters winners were recognized within each division:
Physician Division
First Place:
“Mother’s Mind Matters: Unique Attempt to Provide Urgent Psychiatric Care to Depressed Perinatal Women within a Psychiatry Residency Program.” Authors: Tareen
RS, Kothari C, Gross K, Liepman M.
Second Place:
“Effectiveness and Feasibility of Lung Cancer Screening Using Network System with Computer-Aid Nodule Detection Program for Implementing in Population.” Authors: Kim Y, Lee CW.
Third Place:
“Increase in the Childhood Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rate in Fukushima Prefecture after the Accident at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.” Authors: Sakiyama H & Yoshida Y.
Resident Division
First Place:
“The Relationship Between Demographic Characteristics of Reproductive Age Filipino-Muslim Women And Their Knowledge, Attitude, And Practices Regarding Family Planning in Northern Mindanao Medical Center: A Cross-sectional Study.” Authors: Lucman FM, Alonsabe MOV, Diawatan MMF.
Second Place:
“A Decade-Long Analysis of Gender Parity in Gastroenterology Fellowship Programs’ Leadership, Trainees, and Applicants in North America from 2008-2019.” Authors: Tse CS; Nguyen H, Hinds P, Shaliesha K,* Haq M, Moss S, Bhagra A.
Third Place:
“Head and Neck Injuries Observed in Violence Against Women.” Authors: Gn NT, Fi K, Diarra Y, Timbo Sk.
Student Division
First Place:
“The Relationship Between Barriers to Help-Seeking and Health Issues Among South Asian Immigrant Victims of Intimate Partner Violence.” Authors: Shah A, Sabri B.
Second Place:
“Inflammatory Breast Cancer Masked as Puerperal Mastitis.” Authors: Miller KJ, Ludwig KK, Bell MC, Loncharich AJ.
Third Place:
“A Patient’s Voice Guides Treatment of Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer.” Authors: Huang C, Gehring V, Powell K, Newton E.
CONCLUSION
MWIA President Dr. Bettina Pleiderer (Germany) concluded her presidential term, and incoming President Dr. Clarissa Fabre (United Kingdom) delivered her inaugural speech, outlining her goals and areas of focus for the next triennium. Dr. Shelley Ross concluded 12 years of exemplary service as MWIA Secretary General, and AMWA leader, Dr. Padmini Murthy, assumed the position as new Secretary General. The next MWIA Congress will be held in Taiwan in 2022.
The MWIA Centennial Congress was a wonderful opportunity for women physicians across the globe to come together, reflect on shared history, exchange medical knowledge, and build collegial relationships. This Congress also marks the beginning of yet another century of collaboration among medical women around the world.
SPECIAL MEETING EXHIBITS
Map showing the distribution of attendees participating in the Centennial Congress. Credit: Mary Ellen Morrow Photography
MWIA Centennial Quilt with contributions from national associations. Credit: Mary Ellen Morrow Photography
International Teddy Bear Exhibit representing over 12 countries from around the world. Credit: Mary Ellen Morrow Photography
National association journals and art display inspired by Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. Credit: Mary Ellen Morrow Photography
SPECIAL CENTENNIAL CONGRESS MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE FOR SALE
Centennial Scarf, Centennial T-shirt, Centennial Mug, Centennial Book are available. Please submit interest form here.
Logo flash drives, glass coasters, and pins were also gifted to each attendee and are also available for purchase.
MWIA RECOGNIZED IN THE U.S. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
On Friday, August 2, 2019, just after the close of the Congress, United States Congresswoman Dr. Kim Schrier entered the following remarks in the United States Congressional Record.
“Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA), one of the oldest international professional organizations, representing women doctors worldwide.
In 1919 New York City, American physician, Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy, along with international colleagues from 16 nations, founded MWIA and became its first President. Over the century, MWIA has grown to encompass over 80 countries as either national associations, like the American Medical Women’s Association, or as individual members.
One hundred years ago, there were very few women in the medical field. Organizations like MWIA provided support for women in medicine and more importantly provided a community for them to share medical knowledge as well as promote collegiality around the world. At the time of MWIA’s founding, a major challenge for women was the accessibility of medical education. Fortunately, this obstacle has been overcome in many nations. The sacrifice of these earlier trailblazing doctors helped pave the way for future ones like me.
Yet the number of women in senior leadership positions shows that the work of MWIA is far from over. By investing in women physicians, MWIA provides the network and support system to mentor and advocate for future leaders in the medical field. In addition, MWIA works to improve the health of women worldwide, advocating for gender specific healthcare, promoting equity, and addressing social determinants of health.
Congratulations again to the MWIA for their 100 years of important work. Their tireless work to open doors for women in medicine has improved the health of generations of women, men and children around the world, and for that, we all are grateful.”
View Dr. Schrier’s remarks in the United States Congressional Record.
