Support and Advice
As part of the largest body of female doctors in the UK, you will be in contact
with doctors from all branches of the profession, as well as other medical
students. Our officers and members are always willing to offer support and
relevant careers advice.
Grants and Bursaries
MWF offers annual mature student grants and elective bursaries to female medical
students and members are given priority in the judging process.
Build Confidence - and your CV!
Student members are encouraged to submit articles and elective reports to
MWF's Journal Medical Woman. This offers a great chance
to have your work published. MWF members are also encouraged to present abstracts/essays
at our bi-annual national conferences.
Access to Speakers
Many student members organise events such as Career's evenings at their universities
and have been able to secure interesting and inspiring speakers through the
MWF.
Networking
We offer a special reduced rate to students wishing to attend our national
meetings. These events give an opportunity to meet fellow students and doctors,
as well as being educationally worthwhile.
Advocacy
MWF gives you the chance to voice your opinions on issues which you feel strongly
about and to become involved in medical politics. Our Medical Student representative
is very happy to take on your comments in her lobbying.
Discuss the Issues
MWF offers a forum to discuss your views on gender equity, maternity pay,
health care reform and many other issues. We are always keen to hear your
views and can bring them to the committees on which our members sit.
Medical Woman/Monthly
Newsletter
All members receive our journal, ‘Medical Woman’ three times a
year. MWF members also receive our monthly e-newsletter, which contains important
and up to the minute news as well as information on future events.
Local Support
By joining us you will also be part of a smaller regional branch of MWF. You
will be asked along to local meetings and given a platform on which to share
your views. Your local secretary will also be happy to advise you on any issues.
Supporting Doctors and their Patients
Without our members MWF could not continue its important work in changing
discriminatory attitudes and practices within medicine. As the number of women
entering medicine increases we need to ensure that doctors train and work
in a way which is most beneficial to patient care and to doctors themselves.
© 2006, All rights reserved
"My first exposure to MWF was as a grant recipient while at medical school in 2004. Having never considered myself a ‘prize’ student, it boosted my confidence immensely – not to mention the financial help! I published my elective experience in the bulletin– another big confidence booster! Having qualified now - in retrospect, the biggest difference MWF made was giving me tangible reason to believe in myself while still a student. My ambitions were consistently supported, opportunities always being in abundance. For all my insecurities as a student, I ended up having more on my CV at graduation than many of my friends!"
Dr Vino Apok
F1 in Cardiology
Kingston Hospital
"For many years I thought that the fight had been fought and won and that we are all equal, but on several occasions throughout my medical career I have been given reason to understand that this is not so - most recently when at the ARM I was advised that I should have been at home looking after my children rather than busy with Medico-politics!"
"The kids always get really excited when I'm mentioned in the Papers
or on the radio or TV but best of all is when they say to my husband "You
need to work harder, there's nothing about you when we ‘Google you’
unlike Mummy”!"
Dr Helena McKeown
Part-time GP Principal
Representation
Many MWF members were the first women to head major national medical bodies.
The MWF is represented on major committees of the Department of Health, BMA,
Royal Colleges and other bodies. MWF members form the majority of women doctors
elected to the GMC. As a member you will have direct access to these women,
who will be willing to listen to and raise your concerns.
Influence Policy
MWF is one of the groups that the Government, GMC and others
consult when making policy decisions. We often ask our members for their opinions
on consultations when formulating our responses and take these forward when
we feed back. MWF membership also offers you the opportunity to sit on Committees
as a MWF representative, providing an excellent chance to become involved
in medical politics.
ACCEA Awards
MWF is a nominating body for ACCEA awards and as such can put forward citations
to accomany members' applications. Last year 7 of the 9 applications MWF supported
were successful. MWF also runs workshops on improving ACCEA forms. These have
proved extremely successful, with members getting the chance to exchange forms
with a 'critical friend' and receive feedback from the MWF Officers many of
whom hold ACCEA awards all the way up to Platinum.
MWF Newsletter
As a member you will receive a monthly e-newsletter which contains national
and international news, events and conferences, as well as current information
and guidance on career and pay structures.
Chance to be published
As a member you will also receive our magazine, Medical
Woman, three times a year. This contains relevant articles and reports
on our committee meetings. Members are encouraged to contribute to this, offering
the chance to be published in a peer read publication.
Support and Advice
As part of the largest body of female doctors in the UK you will be privileged
in receiving advice from fellow members with medical experience. Our officers
and members are always willing to offer support and relevant careers advice
or put you in touch with the relevant body.
National Meetings - networking &
CPD Points
We hold two major meetings a year, for which members receive discounted prices.
One in London in Autumn and our Spring Meeting in a different location –
in 2009 this will be Brighton. Members are invited to present abstracts and
the meetings give an excellent chance to network and improve your professional
knowledge. Meetings are CPD point accredited.
Local Groups
As well as joining a national organisation you become part of a smaller, local
group. They organise social, medical, careers and other events, and offer
members advice. Local groups also provide opportunities to take part in committee
work at a regional level.
International
The MWF is an active member of the Medical Women's International Association
(MWIA) which has worldwide membership and hosts an annual congress –
in Germany in 2010. By becoming a member of MWF you gain free membership of
the MWIA.