By Eliza Chin, MD, MPH
Last week, I had the privilege of hosting a tea and mentoring event with the UC Berkeley premedical branch of AMWA. I’ve always had a soft spot for Berkeley as an alumna myself and as someone who helped a group of students begin the AMWA branch many years ago.
We were 12 in all – just enough to fill my dining room table. And it was a joy to have an excuse to use the china which seldom sees the light of day. Amidst tea sandwiches, crumpets and clotted cream, pigs in blankets, cookies, and fruit, we had a lovely evening talking about their varied backgrounds and their interest in the medical field.
One theme stood out – the impact of a single physician on the trajectory of a student’s path. That impact could make a previously unknown specialty become a potential career direction. These small moments of connection proved far more influential than any formal programming could ever be.
I reflected on the specialties where we desperately need more physicians or those where the gender gap remains wide and wondered–would increased mentoring could help spark early interest in these fields? Perhaps part of AMWA’s work is to create more of these moments—to open doors at formative times and bridge gaps that otherwise persist.
As I looked around the table, I was reminded that mentoring doesn’t always happen in formal settings. Sometimes, it’s simply sharing a story over tea that can open a door, plant a seed, or inspire the next step. I left the evening feeling hopeful about the future of medicine and grateful for the chance to support the next generation of women physicians.
And I can’t wait to host the next tea event.