Dear advocates,
On June 24th, the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe vs. Wade, ending the federal right to abortion. This decision could also jeopardize access to birth control, the right to same-sex and interracial marriage, and ultimately threaten our fundamental right to privacy. Advocating for women in science and medicine includes advocating for their right to bodily autonomy and for the right to all forms of healthcare, including abortion.
We, as an organization, would like to provide an environment of support in the wake of this decision.
As a first step, we would like to host a town hall for an open discussion about the future we now face, brainstorm ideas for involvement and what we can do to make a change, get feedback on what you would like to see from us as an organization, and to have a safe space to share grievances and get support.
Following the feedback from this meeting, we would like to continue efforts of education, advocacy, and action surrounding this issue. We have already compiled resources on our website, including articles to read about what this decision means for you, information about upcoming elections and candidates, and organizations that you can support. We will share more information about upcoming meetings and events as they develop, and feel free to share this with anyone else who may be interested.
In the meantime, know that we are here for you. Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns. We hope to see you and hear from you at these upcoming events.
Thank you,
The Association of Advocates for Women in Science and Medicine Board
Medicine
From training to creating an established career, women in medicine face biases and discrimination from both patients and colleagues alike, which cripple both professional advancement and personal well-being. The Association of Advocates for Women in Science and Medicine attempts to both generate awareness and develop effective strategies that will enable women to speak out and promote positive change. The AAWSM annual conference addresses many of these challenges and more, in addition to giving its attendees the opportunity to learn from and network with successful physician scientists.
Research
Over the past 40 years, efforts to advance equal representation have successfully narrowed the gender gap; however, women are still faced with a wide range of professional barriers which including salary, career advancement, networking, and the peer-review process. The Association of Advocates for Women in Science and Medicine seeks to addresses the roadblocks facing scientists today as well as provide the mentoring and network experiences that will grow future leaders presenting novel advances in medical research by current scientists and physician scientists.
Advocacy
In addition to creating awareness, the primary aim of the AAWSM is to equip future leaders with strategies to combat gender bias and discrimination in science and medicine. In addition, while these barriers are distinct to women, we believe solving them requires a unified effort. Therefore, all genders are encouraged to attend the annual AAWSM conference. By empowering women and advocates for women to address these difficult gender-specific issues, we hope to serve as a catalyst for positive change by promoting a culture of both diversity and inclusion.