23 Aug Women in medicine workshop addresses bullying and sexual harrassment in medicine
Dr Jane Barker recently hosted her popular workshop for students and clinicians to explore some of the problems women face in the medical workforce. The workshop has been well supported by local clinicians over the three years the event has been held and all have been very open about their personal experiences. Dr Anne Mallatt Ophthalmologist, Dr Susan Velovski Surgeon, Dr Charlotte Hall FACEM, Dr Ellen McGirr Rheumatologist and Dr Jane Barker GP openly communicated to the students their journeys in medicine, shared stories and acknowledged some of the problems women face in medicine that are still encountered today in the medical fields. This year we were delighted to be joined by some of our junior doctors.
While there has been gender equity in medical school entrance since the eighties, women remain under-represented in formal leadership positions and particular specialty areas. Recent surveys by the College of Surgeons and the College of Intensivists have demonstrated that bullying and sexual harassment are alive and well in Australian hospitals, remembering that not only men are the perpetrators. Women also juggle family life with their medical careers and it was interesting to hear from one of our ex-students, Marissa Barker, who has carried, birthed and cared for her young children during her junior doctor years.
To read more on these issues, read “Bullying alive and well in the medical workforce” and “Women at the Heart of Medicine” please visit Jane and Anne’s new website which they are very excited about : www.tomedicinewithlove.com