Scarlett McNally: Small changes make a big difference in helping women doctors thrive

I led sessions at the recent flagship conference of the Medical Women’s Federation with the theme “Redefining health—with women doctors.” A panel of representatives from 18 medical advocacy groups discussed barriers to progress and looked at effective solutions to ensure that women can thrive as doctors. It’s sobering that so many groups exist to advocate for this. Their testimony shows the huge need for change, but their work gives hope for a better future. Data from published and presented studies are overwhelming. A BMA survey reported that 91% of women doctors had experienced sexism, 70% believed that their clinical ability had been doubted by colleagues or patients, and 82% had been assumed to be more junior because of their gender.1 Intersectionality means that women doctors face a double whammy if they have other protected …