From May 15th to 17th 2025, a great gathering of female doctors from across Northern Europe (and beyond!) took place in Cambridge, graciously hosted by the Medical Women’s Federation.
Topics covered included:
“kindwashing”
the health benefits of exercise and good nutrition, and the nuances of B12 supplementation
the collective power of medical women’s groups
the influence of the gender balance of guidelines committees on the guidelines they produce
sexual harassment and assault of healthcare workers in their workplace
the importance of gender in the operative autonomy of trainees, and in cardiac investigations
the gender pay gap in medicine
the impact of gender on medical women’s working lives
violence against women and girls
There were many fascinating poster presentations, and powerful calls to action from MWIA President Eleanor Nwadinobi, incoming MWF President Prof Dame Jane Dacre, and Professor Stella Vig who delivered the Dame Hilda Rose Lecture.
Many thanks to the MWF and MWIA for hosting a warm and collegiate conference, and to our own friends at Medcafe for providing online access!

Dr Rachel Clarke speaking after the formal dinner at Downing College on the topic of "kindwashing"

Dr Nuthana Bhayankaram, outgoing Vice-President of MWF

Prof Scarlett McNally, outgoing President MWF

Dr Kate Womersley spoke about the influence of the gender mix of guidelines committees on the guidelines they create

Dr Olivia Butler, recipient of WiMIN Bursary, with Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon

Dr Corrina Wright, Clinical Director National Cervical Screening Laboratory (Dublin) presenting a poster on cervical self-sampling

Gender Pay Gap in Medicine

Partners who collaborated on Gender Pay Gap project

Potential factors affecting operative autonomy
Surviving in Scrubs

Professor Stella Vig being introduced by Prof Dame Jane Dacre

MWF strategic objectives

Business meeting of MWIA Northern Europe Region

Dr Eleanor Nwadinobi, President MWIA

Dr Aine Harley (Belfast)

Panel Discussion on Violence Against Women and Girls

Panel discussion with representatives from Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Netherlands and UK

Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon (Ireland)

Dr Genevieve Koolhaas (Netherlands)

Panel Discussion on women doctors' experiences in Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands and UK

Dr Stella Rakama Blomgren and Dr Clarissa Fabre