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Welcome Message from the MWIA President
Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA)
Triennium 2025–2028
Dear MWIA sisters across the globe,
It is with great honour and deep humility that I address you as the newly elected International President of the Medical Women’s International Association.
It was my utmost pleasure to chair the 33rd MWIA Congress, held in Cairo, Egypt, in October 2025 — a truly remarkable gathering that showcased the enduring strength and collective power of our global network, proudly established in 1919. Witnessing physicians, residents, and medical students come together from so many countries was both inspiring and affirming. The memories we created, and the friendships we forged during this Congress, will remain with us throughout this triennium and beyond.
In my inaugural address, I presented the theme for this triennium:
“Advancing Women’s Health and Promoting Women’s Empowerment to Realize the Sustainable Development Goals.”
This theme reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the role of medical women worldwide while advancing health equity and sustainable development. I look forward to working closely with all MWIA members through a strategic framework built on three pillars — the Triad of Empowerment (3Ps):
- Personal Empowerment:
Through capacity-building initiatives that include training, mentorship, awareness programs, and access to information to support the professional and personal growth of our members. - Policy Advocacy:
By actively advocating for women’s health and advancing the careers and leadership opportunities of medical women at national, regional, and global levels. - Partnerships:
By strengthening collaboration with United Nations agencies, international organizations, and key stakeholders to amplify our collective impact.
- Expanding MWIA membership to further strengthen our identity as a truly global network of medical women.
- Increasing MWIA’s influence as the leading international advocacy voice for medical women worldwide.
- Acting as an agent of change by deepening partnerships with UN agencies and international development partners.
It will be my great pleasure to work hand in hand with you, my dear sisters, to make a meaningful impact on the daily lives of medical women across the world and to advance women’s health globally. I look forward to meeting many of you at upcoming regional and national meetings, as well as during our webinars and collaborative initiatives.
Together, let us build a better future for medical women—and for women’s health—across the world.
With my warmest regards,
Dr. Amany Asfour
International President
Medical Women’s International Association
2025–2028
Mission
MWIA is an association of medical women and students representing women doctors from all six continents and eight regions.
Founded in 1919, MWIA is one of the oldest professional international bodies and is non-sectarian and non-profit making. It serves as an international organisation of medical women and medical students from different countries and cultures around the globe.
Courtesy of American Medical Women’s Association
- MWIA has an important voice and influence on issues of interest to medical women e.g. work-life balance, maternity leave, career progression, fighting discrimination and mentoring of young medical doctors and students.
- MWIA initiates and supports scientific projects relating to health and well-being – locally, nationally and globally.
- MWIA has developed training modules for physicians e.g. on gender mainstreaming, violence against women and girls, and adolescent sexuality.
- MWIA serves as a platform for medical women and students to foster dialogue and action on various health issues internationally e.g female genital mutilation, women’s reproductive health and maternal and infant mortality.
103 Years of Legacy
The Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) is the oldest international organization working for the health, well-being and the rights of women and girls, and female medical professionals. Please see MWIA Mission on Page 2.
MWIA was established in 1919 in New York City, New York, United States by 140 women physicians representing 15 countries, including Argentina, Canada, China, England, France, Holland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Serbia, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and United States. Dr. Esther Lovejoy from the United States was elected as the First President of MWIA.