Physicians from across Florida gathered in Jacksonville on April 4 for the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville’s Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) Leadership Conference. The event, co-sponsored by the Florida Medical Association (FMA), was organized by Madeline Joseph, MD, UF Associate Dean for Faculty and Engagement, along with WIMS Executive Committee Chair Tracy Ashby, DO, and Vice Chair Rachel Carpenter, MD.
The conference centered on the theme “Getting Unstuck – Crafting Your Journey to Work-Life Excellence.” It featured speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. FMA President Lisa Cosgrove, MD, addressed attendees about the importance of community among women in medicine.
“The conference theme is spot on because our professional and personal lives are always in motion,” said Dr. Cosgrove. “As someone who raised three sons during my career as a practicing pediatrician, I can honestly say that one of the most important things you can do to meet those challenges is to remain in community with other physicians.” She emphasized that organized medicine provides connection as well as mentorship and inspiration from women leaders.
Dr. Cosgrove highlighted progress for women in medicine over her career: “I’m a third-generation physician who worked as a nurse at Miami Children’s Hospital before going to medical school,” she said. “When I started practicing medicine in 1984, women made up about 16 percent of the country’s physician workforce compared to 38 percent today.” She also noted that women now make up more than half of U.S. medical students: “To put that in perspective, there were two women in my father’s medical school class at the University of Arkansas.”
Following Dr. Cosgrove’s remarks was Susan Kressly, MD, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Kressly discussed strategies for navigating today’s healthcare environment.
“You need to get high enough to look down and see where the exits are for your personal and career trajectory,” she said. Dr. Kressly added that while circumstances may be out of one’s control, individuals can manage their own thoughts and decisions.
“You can reframe how you think about things,” she said. “You can reframe your message when you’re trying to influence change in your organization or your personal life. You can decide how much you’re going to let others and other external forces personally impact you and put guardrails around how much it’s going to impact you.”
She stressed self-awareness: “Know yourself; be honest with yourself,” she said. Comparing growth needs to plants requiring specific environments: “Just like different plants need certain environments and nutrients to keep growing, I can be like a cactus, running on almost anything to survive – but if I’m planted in the wrong climate, I’m not going to thrive.”
Dr. Kressly encouraged daily fulfillment: “Make sure that you’re getting a daily dose of something that fills your cup,” noting her motivation comes from advocating for children and mentoring trainees. She stated: “There is nothing more satisfying as a leader than mentoring yourself out of a job.”
Dr. Kressly urged continued advocacy for patients: “Every opportunity that physicians don’t show up (for) is a lost chance to influence what happens for our patients,” she said.“You are planting seeds for the future. Every day you show up is a better day for patients.”
A panel discussion followed on family planning and reproductive care conversations among physicians. Samuel Brown, MD discussed early fertility preservation talks; Karen Whalen provided an overview on fertility medications; Melissa Parsons-Tucker shared her experience with fertility treatments and research indicating higher infertility rates among female physicians compared with the general population; psychological support was emphasized.
Dr. Cosgrove also spoke about her experiences with fertility issues while working as a physician; it was noted that research shows between 15-20% of female physicians do not have children.
Rachel Carpenter led an introduction session on mindful eating before lunch; later sessions included Rania Sanford presenting appreciative inquiry techniques aimed at team problem-solving through questioning assumptions and brainstorming solutions—attendees practiced these skills during breakout groups.
Other workshops covered mindfulness (led by members from UF-Jacksonville psychiatry department) and artificial intelligence applications in medical education presented by Colleen Kalynych and Jessica O’Leary.
The conference ended with closing remarks from Dr.Joseph followed by networking opportunities during a cocktail hour.Participants reported feeling energized after attending.The FMA expressed its intention https://www.flmedical.org/florida-medical-association/newsroom/newsroom-article/2023/08/01/fma-and-uf-jacksonville-partner-to-support-women-in-medicine-and-science-conference
to continue supporting next year’s WIMS conference.
Rebekah Bernard serves both as an FMA Board member https://www.flmedical.org/florida-medical-association/about-fma/governance/board-of-governors
and chair of its Women’s Physician Committee.She practices family medicine at Gulf Coast Direct Primary Care in Fort Myers,is an author,and has contributed articles focused on physician wellness.
