– Women in Medicine: Reflecting on Current Inequities in Medicine with a viewing of the documentary 1001 Cuts held March 10th
-EmpowerHER Justice: Advancing Health, Safety, and Leadership for Women and Girls, held March 16th
-From Policy to Practice: Access to Justice for Women Physicians in Medicine, held virtually March 16th
-Advancing Women’s Health in the Digital Age, held March 18th
Physicians are under threat in Canada with the impending passage of Bill S-228, which would criminalize any physician who sterilizes a woman without proper consent. There is no argument that proper consent in elective situations is of the utmost importance. It is in emergency situations where the women’s life hangs in the balance that consent may not always be obtained. In a time of a Health Human Resources crisis, the threat of criminalization will limit women’s access to quality reproductive health care. FMWC was able to testify to the committee reviewing the bill to warn them of unintended consequences.
Dr. Gail Beck and Dr. Shelley Ross were able to attend the Women in Medicine in Ireland Network annual meeting on March 21st in Galway with the theme of Are We There Yet? Thank you to WIMIN for putting on such a great conference.
Dr Modupe Tunde-Byass, President of FMWC, and Dr. Shelley Ross attended the
annual meeting of the American Medical Women’s Association in San Francisco The theme was Thriving Leading, Transforming: Rooted in Purpose, Rising in Power,
Committed to Service.
Canada is hosting the second regional meeting of the triennium. The North American Regional Meeting will take place on September 17-19 in Edmonton, Alberta. The theme is Beyond One Identity: Women Physicians Shaping the Future. Registration information is available on https://fmwc.ca/events/2026-agm-conference-join-us-in-edmonton/. All are welcome to attend.
FMWC is continuing its advocacy in protecting all infants against RSV. FMWC’s cardiovascular and cerebrovascular committee is holding a webinar May 13th to talk about follow up for those who had pregnancy complications that can affect their future cardiovascular risk. HPV advocacy remains our flagship advocacy.
As mentioned in our introdutory text, FMWC has broadened its membership criteria. Canada has many medical students studying medicine in other countries. We would like them to have a connection back to Canada Their membership is free. In addition, any Canadian citizen practicing medicine in another country is welcome to join as a Friend of FMWC. All information can be found on the FMWC website at fmwc.ca
Fig 1. Members of FMWC, AMWA and MWIA at the CSW70 Parallel Event
Women in Medicine: Reflecting Current Inequities in Medicine
With screening of the 1001 Cuts documentary