A new ophthalmology conference, Women in Vision NZ, will take place from 12-13 November 2022 at the Woodhouse Mountain Lodge in Matakana.
Themed ‘Break the Bias’, it will focus on leadership, wellness and fostering collegiality and friendship, said Dr Liz Insull, who is organising the meeting alongside Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer and Drs Pragnya Jagadish and Ruhella Hossain. “Ultimately, the meeting will benefit our patients. By promoting communication between women at different levels, in different regions and in different sub-specialties, we are opening channels for support, second opinions or advice in tricky cases.”
The intention is to foster empowerment among women, she said. “I have two daughters and the youngest was six months old when I started on the ophthalmology training programme. My experience was that it was challenging working full-time, studying and being a mum as well. And sometimes it can be isolating. I love my job and I want to support and encourage other women into our great specialty.”
November’s programme includes two sessions with a panel of ophthalmologists, including registrars, fellows and specialists focusing on: 'The elephant in the room – the female trainee experience’, and ‘Career medley – transitioning between training, fellowship and specialist roles’. Margi Luzanycia, founder and CEO of The Alchemist Collective, will facilitate a session on leadership, while paediatrician and poet Dr Renee Liang will speak about combining passion and career.
Organisers, including keynote Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer, Drs Ruhella Hossein and Pragnya Jagadish, say they are hopeful this will be the first of many conferences for women in ophthalmology.
