On March 15, AFMW hosted a Parallel Event at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67). The AFMW UN CSW 67 chosen theme this year was “Leading through the digital revolution to empower women and girls no matter how far the distance”. For those who missed out, we’ve provided the recording of the event below.
Our parallel session was a fabulous success and our speakers enlightened us on the power of digital health and technology, as enablers of equity in health and gender equality when harnessed and used by women and the wider community. Both our theme and that of the UN CSW67 aligns with the vision of our own special interest group, Medical Women in Technology and Health (MedWiTH) group.
Dr Amandeep Hansra shared great insights into the world of entrepreneurship and inspired those us to have a go at solving big problems.
Professor Wendy Chapman shared her leadership journey though her experience with skiing as a parallel for taking chances, being coached, sponsored and then leading with empathy.
Associate Professor Vanessa Morgan talked about the use of technology in dermatology, to reach remote individuals and our First Nation’s People.
Dr Jennifer Green outlined a detailed program for equity in medical workforce training and leadership, which should be used to inform the current National Strategy for Gender Equality.
Dr Kimberly Humphrey gave an eloquent presentation based upon her Harvard Climate Change and Human Health Fellowship, across the whole of women’s health.
Dr Marjorie Cross described how Australia has been the first in many areas of technology, such as the School of the Air which was established in the 1951, however argued that there are still major inequities in access to the internet, across this large continent which inevitably impacts health equity.
Dr Sumaiya Sayed shared with us the development of her podcasts in Hindi, which reach millions of women providing them with evidence-based women’s health advice across India and the Indian diaspora.
Finally, Dr Natasha Abeysekera completed the cycle with a talk on the importance of technology in dermatology. Special thanks to my cohost, Dr Helena Franco, yAFMW co-Chair who is currently at Harvard University.
View the Event Program
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM is the Immediate Past President of the AFMW (2020-2023), former President of VMWS (2013 & 2017-2020) and current AFMW National Coordinator (2024-2026). She is a full time clinician who also holds positions on several not for profit organisations, driven by her passion for bridging gaps across the health sector. She is a leading women’s health expert, keynote speaker, climate change and gender equity advocate and government advisor.
Magdalena was awarded a lifetime membership of the RACGP for her contributions which include past chair of Women in General Practice, longstanding contribution to the RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care, the RACGP eHealth Expert Committee. She is regularly invited to comment on primary care research though mainstream and medical media and contributes articles on various health issues through newsGP and other publications.
Magdalena has represented the RACGP at senate enquiries and has worked on several National Health Framework reviews. She is author of the RACGP Guide on Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery and co-reviewer of the RACGP Red Book Women’s Health Chapter, and reviewer of the RACGP White book
Both an RACGP examiner and University examiner, she undertakes general practice research and is a GP Educator with the Safer Families Centre of Research Excellence, which develops education tools to assist the primary care sector identify, respond to and manage family violence . Roles outside of RACGP include the Strategy and Policy Committee for Breast Cancer Network Australia, Board Director of the Melbourne University Teaching Health Clinics and the elected GP representative to the AMA Federal Council. In 2022. she was award the AMA (Vic) Patrick Pritzwald-Steggman Award 2022, which celebrates a doctor who has made an exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of their colleagues and the community and was listed as Women’s Agenda 2022 finalist for Emerging Leader in Health.
Magdalena has presented at the United Nations as part of the Australian Assembly and was appointed the Australian representative to the World Health Organisation, World Assembly on COVID 19, by the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) in 2021. In 2023, A/Professor Simonis was included on the King’s COVID-19 Champion’s list and was also awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to medicine through a range of roles and to women’s health.
