VMWS: From 1896 to present
Times have changed since Dr Constance Stone, the first woman to practice medicine in Australia, founded the Victorian Medical Women’s Society in 1896. The vision of Dr Stone and the formidable ladies who joined her was to change the course of history, setting a benchmark for women’s health in Victoria and around the globe.
They were yet to have the right to vote but these women challenged conventions, empowered themselves and created the Victoria Hospital, a hospital that was run by women for women. At that time it was the first such hospital in Australia and one of only 3 hospitals in the world that had been founded by, managed by, and staffed by women.
The women doctors treated the poorest of women, gave out medicine free and were not paid for their services, which were in high demand. Two thousand patients presented in the first 3 months. To expand their services the women established the Queen’s Shilling Fund, asking every Victorian woman to donate a shilling to fund a new hospital. The Queen Victoria Hospital was born and by 1951 it was the biggest in the British Commonwealth.
In 1986 the hospital became part of the Monash Medical Centre as part of moves to decentralise hospital services, but the spirit of these pioneering medical women lives on through the Victorian Medical Women’s Society.
Women now pursue careers in all facets of medicine and comprise over 50% of medical graduates but they remain under-represented in senior leadership positions in academic medicine, practice settings and professional medical organisations1. The reasons for this are not clear but the need for opportunities to improve female representation is clear. Without these opportunities the profession will deprive itself both of the diversity of the work styles and values that women bring to the profession, as well as much of the capable pool of candidates to effectively fill such important positions2. Representation and leadership by women in medicine are vital to facilitate gender sensitive decision-making, teaching and research.
There is compelling evidence of an increased suicide risk for all medical practitioners but particularly for female doctors3. One study found that the prevalence of depression among female medical students was 10 times that of the general population, and a study of NSW medical students found that stress and burnout levels steadily increased through their medical training, peaking in their intern year4.
That women now represent more than 50% of medical graduates is a significant change for the profession. Our senior members graduated in the day when there were only a handful of women in each graduating year. The process of “feminizing” or “normalizing” medical training has the potential to bring significant benefits to all medical students, doctors and their future patients but requires major input. Both genders benefit from normalizing of the workforce and research demonstrates that both male and female medical professionals seek flexible working practice and a change in the traditional cultural paradigm of Western medicine.
As the only Victorian organisation exclusively representing the female medical workforce VMWS is well placed to advocate for changes that will benefit all Victorians – women, men and children. Women are not the same as men – females have different professional needs to their traditionally oriented male colleagues. Advocating for alterations to medical training and the workplace is central to addressing the disproportionate levels of depression and suicide among female doctors and medical students. We are pleased that our male colleagues will benefit as a consequence of this work. Together we can create a better workplace and a better world.
VMWS is a state medical women’s society but through our links to the Australian Federation of Medical Women and the Medical Women’s International Association we have direct links to the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, the World Medical Association and UNICEF. We also work collaboratively with local, national and international women’s organisations to address issues of importance to women.
To read more about VMWS please peruse our website using the menu links on the top left column.
References
1. Yedidia MJ, Bickel J. Why aren’t there more women leaders in academic medicine? The views of clinical department chairs. Acad Med. 2001; 76:453-65.
2. Levinson W, Lurie N. When Most Doctors Are Women: What Lies Ahead? Ann Intern Med. 2004; 141:471-474.
3. Clode D (2004) The Conspiracy of Silence: Emotional health among medical practitioners. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, South Melbourne.
4. Willcock SM, Day MG, Tennant CC, Allard BJ. Burnout and psychiatric morbidity in new medical graduates. Medical Journal of Australia 2004; 181(7):357-60.
Photo https://timeline.awava.org.au/archives/163
