Female doctors are often not very visible to students and trainees. VMWS provides many opportunities for students and trainees to meet female medical practitioners in a friendly environment and discuss issues of importance to them. Post graduate training and the management of families and having a life outside medicine are some of the common topics raised.
American studies have shown that female mentors have unique characteristics; they are more likely to treat mentee’s as equal and autonomous, more sensitive to sex discrimination, and the most effective personal supports. Dennerstein (1998) in a pilot program of mentoring at Melbourne University found that the most helpful aspects of mentoring for medical students and trainees were role modeling, counseling on personal and professional dilemmas, insight into the lives of medical women, acceptance and friendship.
VMWS encourages all medical women to develop and foster mentor and mentee relationships throughout their professional lives. For more information about mentoring please contact VMWS.
