AMWA extends midsummer greetings to our MWIA colleagues.
In the second quarter of 2024, the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) continued to focus on numerous initiatives aimed at advancing healthcare, promoting gender diversity, and advocating for the rights of women and children. These included:
- Advocating for reproductive rights. AMWA continues to advocate for access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare. We partnered in a play-to-film production, Voices from the Silenced: Pre-Roe Abortion Stories, a powerful film with compelling storytelling and visual artistry. https://bit.ly/silencedvoicesfilm. We hope our MWIA colleagues will watch the film and share it widely. Consider writing a film review or hosting a free screening (virtual or in person).
Fertility Advocacy: Addressed significant challenges posed by Alabama medical restrictions on fertility care. - Promoting Responsible Gun Ownership. AMWA continues to partner with the Newtown Action Alliance in Lunch & Lobby Sessions to advocate for more gun violence prevention laws.
- Advocating Cardio-metabolic Health and Obesity in Women Stakeholder Summit: Hosted a stakeholder summit on cardio-metabolic health and obesity in women at the National Press Club with high-level key speakers. Video recordings are available at bit.ly/amwaobesity2.
- Participating in the 68th UN Commission on the Status of Women. AMWA co-hosted several side events focusing on women’s leadership in healthcare and a screening of Afghan Dreamer, a documentary about the girls’ robotics team hosted by AMWA in 2018.
- Continuing advocacy and commitment to tobacco control, funding for women’s health, support for victims of violence, youth suicide prevention, HPV vaccination, obesity treatment access, and more.
- Promoting AMWA leadership certification programs (AMWA ELEVATE is available to MWIA members at the AMWA discount price – code: mwia ly/amwaElevate) and mentorship opportunities.
- Addressing Artificial Intelligence: AMWA partnered with the Santa Clara Medical Society (California) on an AI and Healthcare and Innovation Hybrid Event in May. Read AMWA UN Young Representative report on Strengthening Gender Equality in Generative AI.
- Reporting on a new U.S. study: Patients treated by female physicians have lower mortality and readmission rates, which is particularly beneficial for female patients treated by female physicians. Learn about sex and gender differences in the Sex and Gender Health Education Summit co-organized by AMWA in 2021.
- Representing AMWA at the June 2024 American Medical Association Annual Meeting were Dr. Neelum T. Aggarwal, Dr. Roberta Gebhard, and several other AMWA leaders. AMWA delegates provided testimony to resolutions addressing AI and insurance denials, Indigenous health issues, sex and gender research, improving health care, and other issues.
- Representing AMWA President-elect Dr. Eileen Barrett attended a June White House Event with Vice President Kamala Harris and Chrissy Teigen on Reproductive Freedoms. Personal stories emphasized the critical work of healthcare practitioners in providing reproductive healthcare and the harm to patients by recent laws. AMWA was acknowledged as one of the groups working for reproductive freedom and justice. Dr. Barrett represented AMWA at the White House Gender Policy Council Meeting on Contraception. In June, the Biden Administration reiterated its steadfast support of the Right to Contraception Act.
- Representing AMWA and MWIA, Dr. Eliza Chin attended the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, with MWIA leadership. AMWA co-hosted with MWIA a Roundtable on The Role of Women’s Leadership in Advancing Gender Equity and Workplace Well-Being and a special screening and discussion of the film Afghan Dreamers. Padmini Murthy, AMWA’s Global Health Lead, represented AMWA and Women in Global Health at events surrounding this WHA.
- Recognizing women medical student achievements with 634 AMWA’s Glasgow-Rubin Certificates of Commendation for Academic Achievement to women who graduated in the top ten percent of their medical school graduating classes in 2024.
Overall, AMWA’s activities in the second quarter of 2024 continue its multifaceted approach to advancing healthcare, promoting gender equity, and advocating for women’s rights on national and international platforms, inspiring us all to continue our efforts in these crucial areas. Please visit our AMWA website for more details on the work discussed in this report.
In memoriam
AMWA, in sadness, reports the death of a longtime leader in AMWA and member of MWIA, Dr. Joyce Braak. Posted on AMWA’s website is In Memoriam: Dr. Joyce Braak – Poignant reflections from her daughter, Eden S. Braun.
Respectfully Submitted
Karen Y. Poirier-Brode, MD;CM
National Coordinator from AMWA to MWIA