The splendid surroundings
of the Grand Connaught Rooms were matched by the impressive gathering of over
a hundred women doctors and medical students, from all over the world including
some Medical Women’s International Association members from Netherlands,
Germany and Georgia, and one speaker who had come from Hong Kong. The global
theme of our meeting obviously appealed to the international members. A huge
range of specialties were represented, and all grades of doctor from consultant
to medical student. This mixture of doctors is a special feature of MWF meetings
and until you have attended one of these meetings it is impossible to grasp
how stimulating and unique the experience is, of the multilevel, wide ranging
miscellany of women medics.
Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners stirred
everyone’s spirits with her inspiring personal experience of General
Practice. Her honesty, directness and belief in the value of caring for patients,
shone through her talk. The range of morning abstract presentations was in
line with our global theme and included Fertility Rates in Peru, Women in
War Zones, Advocates for Domestic Violence Victims, Teenage Pregnancy in Brunei.
All the medical students were confident and clear in their delivery.We were
delighted that our longstanding and loyal patron, The Duchess of Gloucester,
was able to join us after lunch and Clarissa introduced her to a group of
members, including our Junior Doctor Prizewinner, Alexandra Obee. The Duchess
stayed for Prof Sian Griffiths’s talk on Women’s Health in China
and Hong Kong. Prof Griffiths is currently Professor of Public Health at the
Chinese University of Hong Kong, and gave a beautifully illustrated talk about
the health issues facing the population of China and Hong Kong, including
the challenges of an increasingly elderly population and a shortage of younger
people.
Our afternoon abstracts continued the world tour, with HIV in Malawi, Corruption
in Uganda, use of chaperones and the final abstract was presented by Prof
Parveen Kumar, President of the Royal Society of Medicine. Global Health has
become a fashionable slogan and Prof Kumar highlighted the real question of
whether the enthusiasm of well meaning volunteers can be channelled into more
sustainable and long term benefits.
Professional Conduct was one of the themes running through the day and we
assembled a panel of eminent and experienced doctors for a Panel Discussion.
We were delighted that Prof Sir Michael Marmot, as the only male speaker,
gave us a wonderful account of his report on the Social Determinants of Health.
He has been researching health inequalities for 30 years and showed very elegantly
how the consequences of poor health in society can have a huge impact. Interestingly,
female education was singled out as one of the most potent tools to improve
the overall health of developing countries.
The meeting ended on a high note with a Global Health Rum Reception, thanks
to a generous donation from a rum manufacturer. House of Lords Dinner
We were very honoured that one of our Past presidents, Baroness Ilora Finlay,
agreed to host our Dinner at the House of Lords. It was a huge privilege and
the dinner was extremely well attended. We had a marvellous view onto the
Thames from the Cholmondeley Room. Baroness Ruth Deech presented the award
for the most Family Friendly Trust to King’s College, London, and the
runner up was the Wales Deanery. Dame Stephanie Shirley gave a powerful and
moving after dinner speech about her life and work. She arrived in England
as a refugee aged 4 on the Kinder Transport, was brought up by an English
couple and set up an IT company. She is now a huge benefactor and philanthropist,
particularly dedicated to autism, which affected her son. Several of our international
members attended the dinner.
