Theme: One Humanity: Health Solutions Through Our Partnerships
Host Country: Egypt
Congress Chair: Dr. Amany Asfour
President: Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi
Secretary General: Dr. Mariam Jashi
Treasurer: Dr. Eliza Chin
The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) participated in the 33rd Triennial Congress of the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA), held in Egypt under the inspiring theme One Humanity: Health Solutions Through Our Partnerships. The Congress brought together women physicians from across the globe to exchange insights and innovations aimed at advancing women’s health and gender equity in medicine.
AMWA delegates included:
Dr. Connie Newman (Vice President, North America; Past President, AMWA), Dr. Karen Poirier-Brode (MWIA National Coordinator; Chair, Studio AMWA), Dr. Kathryn Ko (Co-Chair, Studio AMWA; Founder, AMWA Artist in Residence), Dr. Deb Kwolek (Mentorship Chair, AMWA Sex and Gender Health Collaborative), Dr. Lindsey Valone, and Dr. Eliza Chin (MWIA Treasurer; AMWA Executive Director). Together, they represented AMWA’s commitment to leadership, mentorship, art in medicine, and global health advocacy.
The Congress opened with a moving flag ceremony, with Dr. Poirier-Brode carrying the AMWA flag. Delegates proudly wore scarves, stoles, and dresses representing their national organizations, reflecting the rich diversity and unity of MWIA.
Dr. Chin and Dr. Newman, both serving on the 2022-2025 MWIA Executive Board, played key leadership roles. Dr. Chin was also re-elected Treasurer for the upcoming triennium. Throughout the Congress, AMWA leaders contributed to high-level panels addressing women’s health, maternal mortality, and health equity. Drs. Newman, Kwolek and Dr. Chin highlighted AMWA’s pioneering work in women’s health and sex and gender specific medicine, while Dr. Poirier-Brode led a breakout session on art and the humanities in medicine, sharing a decade of success from Studio AMWA in integrating creativity into medicine.
AMWA was honored to lead a screening of 1001 Cuts, the documentary spotlighting women surgeons worldwide, followed by a discussion with panelists including Dr. Nelci Cannon (Vice President, MWIA South America) and a distinguished Egyptian surgeon. The dialogue underscored the cultural and systemic barriers faced by women in surgery and the global call for change.
The scientific program included 12 thematic tracks — ranging from Women’s Health Across the Life Cycle and Maternal and Reproductive Health to Leadership, Digital Health, Climate, and Lifestyle Medicine — and demonstrated the breadth of MWIA’s interdisciplinary commitment to women’s health.
Beyond the sessions, delegates enjoyed opportunities for cultural immersion, including a memorable Nile River cruise with dinner and dancing, and excursions to the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, biblical heritage sites, and the historic cities of Alexandria and Luxor. The Women’s International Summit on Health (WISH) also convened in the margins of the Congress, further enriching dialogue across health and development sectors.
The Congress was a vibrant celebration of solidarity, scholarship, and sisterhood—uniting medical women in a shared vision of global health equity. AMWA’s active engagement continues to exemplify the power of partnership in advancing the health and leadership of women everywhere.
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