By Dr. Shelley Ross
Every time I attend an American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) meeting, I’m reminded why the relationships we’ve built across borders are so valuable. This September, we’ll have another opportunity to strengthen those connections at the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) North American Regional Meeting in Edmonton—and I hope many in AMWA will join us.
Many physicians may not realize that MWIA is organized into eight regions around the world. Together, the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) and the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) make up the North American Region.
MWIA operates on a three-year cycle, or triennium, with Canada and the United States alternating responsibility for providing the region’s Vice President to the MWIA Board. During the last triennium, that role was held by AMWA Past President Dr. Connie Newman from the United States. The current Vice President is Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh, representing Canada. Each country also has a National Coordinator who serves as a liaison with the regional Vice President and MWIA. For this triennium, those roles are held by Dr. Karen Poirier-Brode for AMWA and yours truly for FMWC.
My own involvement with this remarkable community goes back many years. I served as President of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada in 1984, which was also the first year I attended an AMWA meeting. Since then, I have rarely missed an AMWA meeting and have always enjoyed the camaraderie of my AMWA colleagues.
One of the greatest rewards has been the friendships. The colleagues you meet through MWIA and AMWA become lifelong friends. Every year, I look forward to reconnecting with physicians from across North America and around the world who share a commitment to advancing women in medicine and improving the health of women.
What has always struck me is how similar our experiences are. Regardless of where we practice, women physicians face many of the same professional challenges, leadership barriers, and opportunities to make a difference. Those shared experiences create a strong foundation for learning from one another and working together.
The Regional Meeting is much more than a scientific conference. Our business meeting gives us an opportunity to discuss how we can align our regional efforts with the current MWIA triennial theme and identify collaborative initiatives that will have an impact across our countries.
These conversations are more than theoretical. Through AMWA’s Reproductive Health Coalition, developed in partnership with Doctors for America, I have gained valuable insights into the reproductive healthcare challenges facing physicians and patients in the United States. Understanding these issues helps us think proactively about similar challenges that could arise in Canada and how we can best respond.
Of course, the meeting also features an outstanding lineup of speakers covering topics that are timely, thought-provoking, and relevant to women physicians today. Just as importantly, it offers countless opportunities to network with colleagues who are passionate about leadership, advocacy, education, and improving healthcare.
Regional congresses have a wonderful balance of purpose and camaraderie. We accomplish important business, exchange ideas, build partnerships, and strengthen our international community—but we also have fun. The conversations over coffee, shared meals, and social events often become just as memorable as the formal sessions.
I hope you’ll consider joining us in Edmonton this September. Whether you’re attending your first regional meeting or reconnecting with colleagues you’ve known for years, you’ll leave with new ideas, new friendships, and a renewed appreciation for the power of women physicians working together across borders.