Empowering women in medicine: Media invited to March 8 event in Chicago
Event led by women, focused on women coincides with International Women’s Day
CHICAGO --- Media are invited to attend a Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine event focused on women, led by women on March 8, International Women’s Day.
During the sixth-annual Women in Medicine Conference, “Forum for Opportunities — Empowering Success,” a large, diverse group of women clinicians and scientists across institutions in and around Chicago will gather to discuss how they’ve overcome frequent challenges, from pay equity and a lack of leadership positions for women to patients’ microaggressions. The day-long event serves as a supportive environment to validate women’s experiences and also empower them by providing tools on how to overcome these barriers.
A full agenda can be provided upon request. Media interested in attending part of the event should RSVP with Kristin Samuelson at ksamuelson@northwestern.edu.
When: Friday, March 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Feinberg Pavilion A (251 E. Huron St. Fifth floor, Chicago, IL 60611)
Why: More than 30 years of research has found patients seen by women doctors feel more heard and have better outcomes and lower mortality than those seen by men doctors. Women and men tend to prefer women doctors for these reasons. Also, women scientists work harder to include more women in medical research, which has historically underrepresented women. Yet there are still fewer women in medical leadership and women in medicine make less money than men. The conference will address these challenges.
What: Every session, from “Mastering Negotiation Skills” to “Leading in a Crisis,” aims to provide tangible tools women can immediately begin using in their careers to feel more empowered.
Who: Many diverse women leaders at Northwestern, including Northwestern’s first woman chair of medicine, Dr. Susan Quaggin, who will be featured in the morning session (8:45 a.m.). Dr. Ngozi Ezike, former director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, will share her remarks midday (3:25 p.m.). The event also will feature men in Northwestern leadership who are allies: Northwestern Medicine’s CEO Dr. Howard Chrisman and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Dean Dr. Eric G. Neilson.
Diverse voices in medicine: Research has shown when a patient has a shared racial identity with their physician, it can improve communication, trust and adherence to medical advice. Many women of color will speak at the event, including its three co-chairs — Drs. Manjot Gill, Sadiya Khan and Shawn Smith — and can share their experiences in this regard.