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Fall 2007 Newsletter Article
Pediatric Tabacco Issues
 The Women in Medicine Special Interest
Group (WIM SIG) met on Monday May 7, 2007. This year the SIG featured a debate:
Resolved: Programs geared exclusively for
women, such as the Women in Medicine SIG and the AAP’s Women’s Breakfast,
are OBSOLETE. Speaking in support of the resolution were Marsha
Rappleyand John Leventhal, and against the resolution were Eileen Ouellette and Ted
Sectish.
Click here for slides from
the debate. There were approximately 65 attendees present. The debate was remarkable
not only for the information and the articulate arguments presented,
but also for the robust discussion that followed.
Some key points that were mentioned included:
- Separating out “women” from “women’s
issues”
- Defining clearly what women want
- Including the challenges of women in private
practice
- Acknowledging the importance of having men present during the discussion.
- Notion that a rising tide lifts all boats: success of a few women is of
benefit to all
- An old boys’ network is still operational
- Working part-time early in
one’s career has an impact on one’s
retirement portfolio
- There are still challenges in the workplace related to
breast-feeding
- Sexual
harassment
- The threshold effect requires 25% - things don’t
happen if only a handful are affected
- Role of the SIG in empowering women IMGs
- “Lost generation of associate
professors” – treading water,
and languishing in non-academic ranks
- The SIG had to move beyond the “Women
in Medicine SIG” so as
to encourage participation by men: suggestion – sponsor workshops
- Create
a program committee for the SIG and involve both men and women
- Revisit the issue of available NIH funding for part-time academicians
Two potential workshop topics for PAS 2008 emerged from the discussion:
- Is it Gender or Generation? Understanding Issues Facing the Pediatric
Workforce and
- Succeeding in Academia: The Challenge of Being an IMG:
Are there Gender Differences?
Dr. Berkowitz determined during the luncheon for SIG chairs that SIGs can submit
and sponsor workshops.
There was also a brief discussion of the Task Force on Women in Medicine II
sponsored by FOPO and chaired by Bonnie Stanton, M.D. APA was asked to submit
the name of a delegate to that group. Five individuals expressed interest in
serving on the Task Force: Ruth Stein, Latha Chandran, Lindsay
Grossman, Mumtaz
Lakhani and Colleen Kraft. Dr. Berkowitz will submit their names to the APA
Executive Committee for selection. Additional individuals expressed an interest
in serving on the Women in Medicine SIG Program Committee: Lee Savio
Beers,
Lindsay Grossman, Krishnapriya Anchala, Steven Blatt, Mumtaz Lakhani, Michelle
Hoffman, Molly O’Shea, Denice Cora-Bramble, Joe
Zenel.
2007 proved to be one of the most energized Women in Medicine SIG meetings,
and the group is looking forward to sponsoring workshops in Hawaii and having
greater involvement by the men who attended the session.
Updated
11/1/07
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