Background

The origin story

In December 2017, the Medical Women's Federation (MWF) of the UK ran an "Advent Calendar" series on Twitter, which referenced a different historical female doctor each day and celebrated her work.

I had never heard of the MWF, or even contemplated the need for such an organisation. However it struck me that since the MWF was celebrating its 100th anniversary then perhaps this was indeed a useful and valuable tool for female medics in the UK. I put it out there to the few hundred followers I had on Twitter at the time. It seemed to strike an immediate chord, and I was inundated with replies from enthusiastic colleagues. After a little bit of to and fro, the name Women In Medicine in Ireland Network was agreed upon, which gave us the corny-but-catchy acronym “WIMIN”.

Since then, I have had support and encouragement from medical women all around the country, and beyond, from all specialities and grades. The membership continues to grow apace, and the enthusiasm has been overwhelming.

There is a huge appetite for an organisation that supports, encourages and advocates for women in medicine in Ireland.

• Dr. Sarah Fitzgibbon, 2019

Our founder, Dr. Sarah Fitzgibbon

Dr. Sarah Fitzgibbon was a GP in Cork. She qualified from UCC in 2000 and took a slightly circuitous route to GP training, receiving her MICGP in 2006. She joined the practice where she trained as a registrar, in the northside of Cork city. In 2014, she was diagnosed with liver metastases from bowel cancer. She wrote about her experiences as a patient in her well-received blog, Adventures of a Sick Doctor. Throughout her twelve year illness, she dedicated herself o a number of projects - writing, fundraising, advocacy, campaigning, and founding WiMIN.