AWAEM
Newsletter
Summer 2010
AWAEM in Action SAEM—A Full House! 1st Annual AWAEM Luncheon. With the opportunity for women at every stage of their career to network with each other, there was a great deal of energy. Women talked about issues of interest, challenges, & subjects they would like addressed in the future. It was truly impressive to have a room overflowing and spilling into the hallways with such a formidable crowd. In true AWAEM fashion, we all crowded together, split the meals and dove right in, setting the foundation for important advancements in the work and culture of emergency medicine. As a model for effecting change in our specialty, AWAEM could not have had a better start. A BIG THANKS to our facilitators Esther Choo, Preeti Jois, Elaine Josephson, Alice Mitchell, Maria Moreira, & Kristen Nordenholz. Plans are underway for next year: a larger venue, a better public address system, & the opportunity to network. See you next year! AWAEM Speaker Preeti Jois on Work-Life Balance. At the end of her fellowship, she recalls receiving a book from a mentor. She started reading Authentic Happiness on a flight, & couldn’t put it down, leading to an enduring interest in creating a life of balance. The topic resonated with the AWAEM audience, including both men & women. In her own words, “Work on tasks that are important & urgent; get rid of everything else! Accept work projects that acknowledge & authenticize your plans & career goals; learn how to say NO with guilt-free grace. Find your strengths- those activities which truly gratify you & allow you to find your flow & rhythm—those moments that give you satisfaction. Remember that you play many roles every day & that those acts create imbalance. Appreciate the imbalance because it is the constant readjustment that allows you to be your truest, most authentic self.” Preeti Jois is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, Shands Hospital. Annual Business meeting, June 3, 2010 Kathleen Clem, President & the leadership group: Vice-Chairs Stephanie Abbuhl & Gloria Kuhn; Secretary Susan Watts; Treasurer Susan Promes; SAEM BOD liaisons Deb Dierks & Bob Hockberger; Advisory Panel: Glenn Hamilton, Joanne Oakes, Sandra Schneider, Tamara Thomas, & Kerry Broderick. Members also joined committees & projects for the upcoming year that will keep AWAEM going & growing!
It is hard to believe that it is only the 1st year! Just look at what we have done: Video “Women in Emergency Medicine,” AWAEM Awards, Book Club, E-Newsletter, AWAEM Website, Facebook & Twitter sites, just to name a few….
AWAEM Presents Special Recognition Award to Dr. Glenn Hamilton Dr. Glenn Hamilton credited with helping to start AWAEM. At the first AWAEM annual meeting, Glenn Hamilton was recognized for strong & consistent advocacy for women in emergency medicine. In 2005, Dr. Hamilton, then president of SAEM, convened a taskforce, lead by Kathleen Clem, to consider the problems encountered by women embarking on an academic career. He charged the taskforce with: 1. Describing the recruitment, retention, & advancement needs for women in academic emergency medicine 2. Formulating recommendations to the SAEM BOD to encourage & support women in their academic careers. In 2008, the taskforce published Recommendations from the SAEM Taskforce on Women in Academic Emergency Medicine in Academic Emergency Medicine. Among the strongest recommendations was the creation of an Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine. In short, AWAEM exists today as a result of Glenn’s vision & enduring commitment to the support of women in academic emergency medicine.
AWAEM Special Recognition Award To honor Glenn Hamilton's strong and consistent advocacy for women in emergency medicine, his vision for the Academy of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine, and the tenacity with which he helped in making the vision a reality. On the first anniversary of AWAEM, we wish to honor his dedication and leadership to the mission of the academy:promote the recruitment, retention, advancement and leadership of women in academic emergency medicine.
AWAEM Awards New awards recognize the advancement of women in academic emergency medicine. The AWAEM Early Career Faculty Award honors excellence among women faculty in their first 10 years after residency. This award is designed to honor excellence among women faculty in their first 10 years after residency. Dr. Gillian Schmitz graduated from the emergency medicine residency program at the University of North Carolina in 2007 & is currently an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University. The AWAEM Award for Advancement of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine recognizes outstanding efforts & achievements of leaders who promote the careers of women in academic EM. Dr. Katherine Heilpern, Chair & Professor of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine & past president of SAEM.
AWAEM plans to develop the awards program to highlight the accomplishments of women in emergency medicine & to refine the nomination process for existing awards.
Member News On Friday, March 19th AWAEM members enjoy a panel discussion about women and leadership at the Western Regional SAEM Meeting in Sonoma, CA. Panelists: Kathleen Clem , Chair, Loma Linda University; Ellen Weber , Vice Chair for Faculty Development, UCSF; Susan Promes , Program Director & Vice Chair for Education, UCSF ; & Deb Dierks, Research Director, UC Davis. Moderator: Susan Watts, Assoc. Research Director, Texas Tech University. The panelists discussed achieving leadership positions, the unique perspectives of women in leadership, & balancing professional & family lives. It was a very productive session & just
the first step in developing regional networking for AWAEM members. Like What You See? Want to Join?
http://www.saem.org/AWAEM Publication Editor Alice Mitchell, MD
Editor Stephanie Abbuhl, MD
Contributors Kathleen Clem, MD, Esther Choo, MD, Gloria Kuhn, MD & Susan Watts, PhD