There was more to Celebrate on 31 October than Halloween!
The local Medical Women Assembled (no black hats or cats I promise!) at EQ to Celebrate the Achievements of our colleagues at a sumptuous dinner punctuated by presentations. The key speaker was Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo who shared aspects of her gender journey. She was candid and passionate as she shared aspects of her childhood in Malaysia and early career that culminated in her working as a GP in Canberra with special interest in LGBTQIA+ issues and her own transition in recent years.
Her lived experience made for riveting listening and we applaud her honesty and bravery in sharing with us. So many take-home messages, a key one being that no young person makes a choice to differ from society’s norms on a whim – if they are brave enough to speak out of their difference then they deserve to be taken seriously.
We also heard from two medical students who were assisted in their medical electives by our bursary program, one in Darwin learning about ophthalmology especially with Indigenous Australians, and the other in a Remote Rural Practice in a mining town in WA.
[Photos courtesy of Dr Betty Ge]
Dr Brenda Masters is a Canberra GP, President of the AFMW (2024-2026).
Brenda grew up in rural SA, studied Medicine in Adelaide, and has worked in Practices around the country before settling in our beautiful National Capital over 20 years ago.
Brenda is keenly involved in the Medical Women’s Society of ACT and Region, a group who provide both networking and peer support. She believes that everyone should be given the opportunity to realise their full potential in life and applies this to both her work and her relationships.
Brenda enjoys gardening and singing in her spare time and tries to make the most of Canberra’s proximity to the snow.
