RACS Women in Surgery Newsletter - June 2016

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Women in Surgery Newsletter
July/August 2016

WIS at the ASC

Our Section were well represented at the Brisbane ASC. From the wonderful turn out at the inaugural WIS networking function on the Tuesday evening to the terrific sessions put together by this year's convener, Teresa Withers, we hope you were able to enjoy and be motivated by the presentations and the networking opportunities the ASC provides.

The RACS Annual Scientific Congress May 16 saw the launch of the ‘Lets operate with respect campaign’. Plenary and other session through out the week covered topics of discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment. Gerry Hickson presented in many forums on the Vanderbilt-Hickson principles of graduated interventions for inappropriate behaviors. The Women in Surgery Section had well attended sessions. Content included Women as Scholars and Leaders, and great debate with Education, ‘Women are natural born educators’. Further information on the 'Lets operate with respect campaign' and the College's Action Plan as a result of the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Committee can be found on the College website.

We had our first networking drinks at the event, a great success. We were fortunate to have Miss Clare Marx, current and first female president of RCS England as guest speaker at our WISS Breakfast and ABM. Her Talk titled ‘Still a man’s world?’ was inspiring and created great discussion.

Ruth Bollard FRACS
Chair, WIS Section Committee

Ruth can be found on Twitter @Ruthbollard

Highlights from the WIS Sessions
By Teresa Withers
As convener for the 2016 Women in Surgery program I thank all of the presenters who enlightened and motivated our audiences on the many issues and challenges. The program was held largely over two days. One of the highlights of the Scientific Session ‘Women as Leaders and Scholars’ was Trish Davidson’s ‘The Brightest and the Best, How and Why’ followed by psychologist Dr Kim Peter; presentation on the psychological barriers to Women’s progression to the top. Thursday’s program commenced with the well attended Women in Surgery Breakfast. Both WIS members and non-members enjoyed RCS England President Clare Marks’ presentation with our Chair, Dr Ruth Bollard providing a summary of the EAG Action Plan. In the afternoon, US couple Dr Jacob and Prof Caprice Greenberg both entertained and enlightened us on the ‘Challenges of Two Surgeon Households’ with Caprice also presenting on ‘Expanding The Conversation About Challenges for Women in Surgery’. The Great Debate followed with the topic ‘Women are Natural Born Educators’ – with men for the Affirmative and Women for the Negative. This was a very lively, light hearted approach surrounding the serious issues of gender equity and discrimination.

You can catch up on many of these presentations at the Virtual Congress – it is well worth a look.

WIS BREAKFAST SESSION & ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

THE INAUGURAL WIS NETWORKING FUNCTION AT THE ASC

PROPOSED LEADERSHIP SPEAKERS GROUP
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

The WIS Section Committee is proposing to form a group of those interested in being called upon to speak at various events - in particular, student conferences and seminars. If you enjoy volunteering your time to motivate and assist these groups, please send an expression of interest in the first instance to the WIS Secretariat.

Copyright © 2016 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, All rights reserved.

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