A lot of work has been done over the years in healthcare to train, recruit and promote women into specialist and leadership roles traditionally dominated by men, and to also make healthcare an attractive career compatible with raising a family.
Being able to use different but complementary skills of logic, science and compassion drew Dr Avelyn Kwok to healthcare.
“We often see patients at a very vulnerable time,” says Dr Kwok, a gastroenterologist at Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San). “We are in a privileged position of trust as we guide them through a difficult process. It’s a very special aspect of what we do.”
Historically, while more women than men worked in healthcare overall, more men than women held leadership roles. But that is changing.
“I was an anaesthetist before I moved into an executive role as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the San,” says Dr Nicole Phillips. “Through the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, I was actively involved in the work being done to promote more women in research, in scientific representation at conferences, and in leadership roles. I am a firm believer in ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’. When I was younger, some women in very senior roles had made significant sacrifices in order to get there – particularly in relation to having a family. But over time I started to see women actually have a career and a family and move into leadership positions. We still need to get better at creating pathways back into their academic or leadership careers after women take time off to have children, and that’s one of the things I’m focusing on in my current role.”
Dr Kwok concurs. “Decades ago women might have had to give up part of their career for motherhood. Now there is more job flexibility and a lot more job-sharing opportunities which makes it easier for women to continue with their career while raising a family. It is a welcome change and is really exciting.”
Dr Kwok encourages women to regularly assess their current situation and their priorities.
“At the start of your career, you may have particular goals. Over time, your ambitions may change, your priorities regarding career and family may change. I think it is important to regularly reevaluate your needs and priorities.”
We are now seeing more women going into healthcare careers traditionally considered male-dominated.
Dr Phillips notes that a lot of work has been done to recruit women into roles as surgeons, heads of departments, and chairs of academic institutions.
“Many Specialist Colleges have 50:50 gender balance in each intake of medical trainees, leading to more women coming up through the ranks into these positions.”
Dr Phillips says she has had some wonderful female mentors throughout her career.
“I’ve also been very lucky to have wonderful male advocates who’ve really gone into bat for me. These men played pivotal roles in putting me forward to speak at meetings, or to take on roles as clinical lead. Women can support each other, but when we’ve also got men promoting women, then we get so much further together.”
