Making an impact: running a successful society
Akshara Sharma and Marguerite O'Riordan wrote this for the Spring/Summer 2022 edition of Medical Woman
Creating a vision: identifying problems and having purpose
The Medical Women’s Federation (MWF) is the largest body of women doctors in the UK and as the University society branch of the MWF as well as the student representative for Aston University for the past two years, we aim to strengthen and amplify medical student’s voices as they progress through their individual medical journeys. The majority of applicants and offer holders to medicine are female and an opposite trend is seen in surgical applications where the majority are male.
Accordingly, societies like ours aim to narrow this gap and motivate students and give them realistic insights into the journeys of several successful female doctors. Not only this but also break down existential barriers and misconceptions that may serve as influential factors. Another important development of the MWF University platform and society is to strengthen inter-student support and students’ personal and professional development using this platform where there is a vast opportunity for students to learn from the experiences of various motivational and successful speakers.
Successful events and diverse speakers
Over the past two years, we have organised and hosted several successful MWF events nationally. Our main events have been the first National Women in Medicine and Surgery event where two eminent speakers, Dr Fizzah Ali and Dr Karishma Chandarana were invited to have a panel discussion on their careers. It was attended by students from various universities across the UK and internationally. Most importantly, the event demonstrated a positive impact. By the end of the event more than 90% of the participants agreed that post-event, in their perspective, work-life balance, having a family and a medical or surgical career was possible and that they could manage this well, whereas before the event 79% to 81% of attendees thought that it was difficult to balance these two aspects. More than 70% of attendees also believed that the mentorship gap was bridged via such events and all attendees wanted to see more events like these in the future.
This academic year, we hosted three successful events with the first being on Women in Leadership. We invited four speakers from different medical specialties to share their experiences, strategies, and how they achieved reputed leadership and management roles. Our feedback from the event reflected that attendees found the speakers to be highly inspiring and motivational role models.
It increased their confidence in believing that they could achieve similar roles as well if they had the determination and commitment. It was encouraging for the participants to hear that it was possible to be a woman in a leadership role as well as have a personal and family life. Additionally, having a view of the speaker’s challenging experiences was relatable for the attendees as often, as students, we do come across similar events but might not know how to tackle such situations.
Students felt that they appreciated hearing relatable real-life experiences of speakers, it truly inspired them and gave them an idea on how to pursue similar career interests.
Another event was an Instagram live with a surgical doctor which also received positive feedback. We were able to showcase positive insight into the life of balancing multiple roles and breaking down outdated perceptions proving and again encouraging students to know that their aspirations should not be moulded because of preexisting misconceptions. The action of applying for and persevering with Core Surgical Training is preceded by building up not only an ample portfolio on paper, but also strong mentality, passion, and resilience in the face of adversity, challenges and setbacks, and motivational factors to avoid burnout and keep you interested in what you enjoy. All of this is preceded by a medical student’s innate determination to achieve and strive for perfectionism. This might be misportrayed as often the challenges and hardships are not celebrated or spoken about. Hence, the atmosphere, mentors to look up to and learn from, and examples from medical school are of utmost importance which necessitates the goal of MWF Chapters.
It would be remis of us not to mention our national conference in March 2022. We have a range of speakers, including MWF’s President Elect, Mrs Scarlett McNally. Our speakers ranged from those vocal about doctors’ mental health (Dr Ally Jaffee), financial know-how in medicine (Dr Cyra Asher), to Dr Latifa Patel, who demonstrates how our female colleagues can act as allies in striving for gender equality and activism. We hope that the broad range of interests and achievements from our panel inspires female medics to pursue their passion fearlessly; get involved in activism and realise that they have the potential to make a difference.
Employing social media
We have spent years raising awareness of MWF’s work, achievements, and goals on our local Aston MWF Twitter account as well as university newsletters and group chats. We have alsoencouraged MWF membership benefits locally and have advertised flyers and posters on socials of Aston Surgical and Medical society.
Thanking contributors and thoughts for the future
All in all, it has been a great pleasure and an enjoyable experience to be the Regional MWF Student Representative for Aston University as well as grateful to be on the Aston MWF Society’s Committee.
We are grateful for the continued support of our work by all the speakers and the Medical Women’s Federation. We couldn’t have done it without them.
Through Aston MWF society and being the Regional Representatives for Aston University, the goal is to showcase the reality, amplify the voices of medical women, and organise events with the aim of a local intervention for influential factors at early stages of medics’ careers. We are all in this journey together, we learn from each other and we should openly talk about our journeys as they are all different. This helps to strengthen and develop each other along the process. Perseverance is definitely one of the most important aspects in Medicine.