Authored by Meghan Etsey, Laura Uricoechea, Meenu Immaneni – on behalf of AMWA Gender Equity Task Force
“Our Voices, Our Future” is a podcast by the Gender Equity Task Force of the American Medical Women’s Association that explores the challenges, stories, and successes of those working to advance gender equity in medicine. Through candid conversations with changemakers, advocates, and leaders, each episode dives into issues like pay gaps, leadership disparities, and inclusive workplace culture. Tune in to be inspired, informed, and empowered to take action. Full episode listening links are available below the transcription.
Meghan: Hey, everyone. Welcome to Our Voices, Our Future, a podcast dedicated to amplifying the voice of women in medicine and advocating for a more equitable and inclusive future. This podcast is brought to you by the Gender Equity Task Force, a committee of the American Medical Women’s Association. We are here to challenge norms, break barriers, and ignite conversations that matter.
Meghan: Today, we are welcoming the wonderful team that will be doing the interviewing for the podcast. I’m super excited for everyone to introduce themselves. Without any further ado, I’m one of your hosts, Meghan Etsey, a third-year medical student from Ohio. I’m a passionate advocate for gender equity and someone who believes that our stories, our collective voices, have the power to drive real change.
Meenu: Thank you, Meghan, for that wonderful intro. I’m one of your other hosts, Meenu Immaneni, and I’m a third-year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in New Mexico. I’m originally from North Carolina, and I also cannot wait to get started on this series and have conversations with amazing people in medicine.
Laura: Hi, everyone. I’m Laura Uricoechea, and I am your third host. I am from Bogota, Columbia, and I’m currently working on my master’s degree in public health at Thomas Jefferson University in Wilbury. Returning to medical school this summer to complete my fourth year at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Meghan: So, what can you expect from this podcast? Each episode will bring you candid discussions with leaders, change makers, and advocates, working to create a more inclusive and just world. No more silence, no more waiting. It’s time to raise our voices and shape our future.
Meenu: Some episodes will deep dive into specific challenges like pay gaps, leadership disparities, and workplace culture shifts. Others will focus on personal stories because sometimes hearing someone else’s experiences can be the most powerful way to inspire change.
Laura: Don’t worry, we’re not just here to lecture. We want these conversations to be engaging, thought provoking, and sometimes even a little fiery.
Meghan: So tell me, everyone, what made you want to bring this podcast to life?
Laura: Meghan, I think being a woman in medicine can be discouraging sometimes. But I think hearing from those who have walked this path before us can be both inspiring and empowering. I wanted to be a part of this team on this project to help bring those stories closer to other women in medicine so we can learn from their experiences and keep pushing forward together.
Meenu: For me, it was the warmth and support I felt when I first joined an AMWA committee meeting. I knew I wanted to share that feeling with everyone through this podcast. Being surrounded by strong women in medicine at different points of their careers, seeing their passion shine through their actions has been very inspiring and empowering, especially as we continue our own journey in this field.
Meghan: Yes, I totally agree. Having a podcast where we can inspire other women and bring voices to stories is incredibly powerful. I’m so happy to be here for that as well. Before we dive into the incredible conversations ahead, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about why we’re here and what you can expect from this series. Our Voices, Our Future is more than just a podcast. It’s a movement, a space where we can break down barriers, challenge biases, and uplift one another as we navigate the ever evolving world of medicine. In the first volume, we’ll be sharing past recorded conversations led by someone who has played a crucial role in shaping this project, Joanna. Joanna is an incredible advocate, a mentor, and someone who first sparked our interest in using our voices to push for change. Her work in medicine has paved the way for many of us. I’m honored to have the opportunity to continue the dialogue she started. In the next episode, we’ll introduce Joanna and share more about her journey, her impact, and why her insights are so vital to this conversation. This will serve as a transition from her recorded episodes to the new ones. We’ll be bringing you featuring fresh discussions, new voices, and a shared commitment to equity. If you check back now, you should see all of her posted recorded sessions on our page already to listen to before we begin bringing you the new recorded episodes.
Laura: So if that sounds like something you would like to hear, follow us wherever you get your podcasts from, and if you like what you hear, share us on your social media so that more people can find our show.
Meenu: That concludes our intro episode, but we’ll be back very soon with our first full-length episode with Joanna. We cannot wait for you all to go on this journey with us. So whether you’re tuning in on your morning commute during a study break or winding down after a long day, I invite you to join me on this journey. Let’s listen, learn, and take action because our future is shaped by the voices we choose to elevate.
Meghan: Thanks for listening to Our Voices, Our Future. See you next time.
Links to our podcast:
RSS https://rss.com/podcasts/our-voices-our-future/
Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1805991643
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5E59jvuFQOjSXfLrjQiy0P
Podcast Index https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7278557
Fountain https://fountain.fm/show/7278557
True Fans https://truefans.fm/82727577-2b37-5929-aa2e-1574d478b177
About the Authors
Meghan Etsey, MS3
Meghan Etsey is a third year medical student from St. George’s University. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Biology and a Bachelors of Arts in Nutrition and Dietetics from Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio. She served as the President of the St. George’s University’s Women in Medicine chapter in St. George, Grenada where she expanded relationships with the community and worked towards educating women and helping the youth. She is also a member of the Gender Equity Task Force and Sex and Gender Health Collaborative Committees within the American Medical Women’s Association. When she is not pursuing medicine, you can find her with her friends and family on different road trips and adventures exploring the world.
Laura Uricoechea, MS4
Laura Uricoechea is a fourth-year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is currently completing a Master of Public Health at Thomas Jefferson University between her third and fourth years of medical school. Laura is applying to OB/GYN residency and is passionate about women’s health, particularly reproductive healthcare. She is an active member of the Gender Equity Task Force within the American Medical Women’s Association. Outside of medicine, Laura enjoys spending time outdoors—she loves hiking, paddleboarding, swimming, and playing tennis.
Lakshmi Meenakshi Immaneni, MS3
Meenu Immaneni is a third-year medical student at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a focus in Nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Passionate about patient advocacy and advancing equity in healthcare, Meenu is a dedicated member of the American Medical Women’s Association, where she serves on the Gender Equity Task Force. She is particularly interested in promoting mentorship, and championing women’s leadership in medicine. When she is not studying, Meenu enjoys spending time with her husband and their cat, playing board games, reading, and traveling to explore new places.