The path to equity

International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the achievements of women and a driver for change, takes place on Wednesday 8 March. The campaign’s theme for this year, #EmbraceEquity, highlights the individuality of each person’s circumstances and calls for a targeted approach to allocating “the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome”.

The College strives to be an engaged and welcoming organisation, but recognises that more needs to be done in this area. In celebration of this important date in the calendar, and to help open the dialogue on this subject, we invited women from across the medical profession and at different stages of their careers to share their experiences as a woman in their field.

As well as reflecting on their experiences to date, they share what they would like to see happen in the profession going forward in the pursuit of true equity.

Smita Vittal Praveen, Director, Academics, Medical Research Foundation, Chennai

At the very outset, ladies, let’s get one thing clear: work-life balance is a myth. Once we accept this, our lives become that much simper. I am an ophthalmologist at a tertiary eye-care centre. For the past 20 years I have held a variety of positions ranging from Head of the Community Ophthalmology Wing to practising neuroophthalmology and a post as Director of Academics. Being a woman allows me the freedom to frequently re-invent my role at work, enabling me to feel relevant. Often this means giving up some of the visible signs of success or choosing to focus on family over work at certain points, even remaining on the fringes of the organisation rather than being mainstream. I am lucky that my organisation values me enough to let me be flexible with work hours, take on additional responsibility and give up some responsibility. Having children helped me manage these scenarios, as it increased my capacity for patience.

Weighing the pros and cons of decisions made has helped me move from a position of success to one of significance – professionally and personally. I have taken the road less travelled and it has benefited me in unimaginable ways. As women in the medical field, we have a tremendous capacity to handle pressures at work and home with skill, dignity and patience. I firmly believe that the future is bright and it is female.

I was fortunate to study dentistry at the London Hospital Medical College, and graduated in 1992 alongside many amazing women, who supported and empowered one another.

There have long since been equal numbers of men and women entering dentistry, but on reflection there were pitifully few female consultants and professors who taught me.

Did this ‘glass ceiling’ affect my career progression? I was once overlooked for an StR post in favour of a male candidate who was less qualified than I was. As frustrating as that was, the experience only served to make me more determined, and I went on to do a self-funded clinical Master’s degree and was subsequently successful on my next StR application. To this day I believe I am a better clinician for having done that and so I do not regret it.

The next StR interview panel comprised six men and no women. I was asked if, as a married woman, I was planning on taking any career breaks during the five-year training programme. There was no mistaking the feeling that it would not be encouraged.

Fortunately, attitudes towards gender diversity have gradually evolved in the last 19 years that I have been an NHS consultant. Recruitment and flexible training opportunities have developed.

I am proud that I played an active part in these improved processes as a Training Programme Director for 10 years. Now, as Director of Dental Education, I work with a great many fabulously talented female dental consultants and professors.

We have made great strides, but the journey will only be complete when there are equal numbers of men and women at all levels of the profession.

Jun Wei Lim, ST5 Trauma and Orthopaedic in North of Scotland, RCSEd Trainees’ Committee Member

My reasons for entering the surgical field are not any more unique than those of my male colleagues. When I was a second-year medical student I was able to go to theatre to observe a total hip replacement and I knew I wanted to be a surgeon as I wished to have an immediate effect on individuals’ quality of life. There were no female consultant orthopaedic surgeons at that time, but I have been very fortunate to have highly supportive male mentors throughout medical school and surgical training. When I was on-call on Christmas Day 2022 it was a predominantly female surgical team, which is a reflection of the changing landscape in surgery.

Despite women now comprising more than half of medical school admissions, they still face significant hurdles, particularly in surgery. We are still being subjected to gendered expectations of child-rearing responsibility, and female surgeons who have had children are still on the receiving end of the double-standard culture in medicine. With the lack of role models, women are less likely to pursue an academic surgical career as well. The truth is we can have accomplished surgical careers, but we can also be great mothers and wives – and ultimately be ourselves. Of course, we cannot progress effectively without a suitable workplace environment. Supporting women in surgery can be done by expanding the number of women in surgical training, allowing greater autonomy in rota scheduling and more room for job-sharing. Having mentors who understand the challenges and colleagues who appreciate you are equally important. Sometimes you have to create your own path to ‘have it all’. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but it’s possible.

Clare McNaught, RCSEd Vice-President

As you get older and further into your surgical career you’re often faced with additional pressures in life, such as children going into higher education, greater levels of responsibility at work and your body can take a little longer to recover from such a physically demanding job.

Of course, these things don’t just affect women – they are relevant to everyone getting to that stage of their life and career. However, the menopause is a unique challenge for women, which has a huge impact on mental and physical health. There seems to be a taboo around discussing the menopause, but considering

Find out more

Learn more about the RCSEd’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion by following this QR code to our website.

www.rcsed.ac.uk/professional-supportdevelopment-resources/equality-diversity-andinclusion there are roughly 30,000 doctors across the UK going through it at any given time it’s vital that we open the dialogue.

If we make it better for women, we make it better for everyone in surgery, which is exactly what we want.

As a surgical college, we will continue to work with both government and employers to ensure our Members are supported, allowing them to have happy, full and productive lives.