Healthcare professionals from around the world have nominated their colleagues and friends for the inaugural Global Women in Healthcare Awards, a prestigious recognition launched by Scotland’s healthcare INGO, EMMS International, and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The winners of these awards were announced on Saturday, March 9th, 2024 at the Elsie Inglis Charity Ball held at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
This event, organized by EMMS International, was held in celebration of the accomplishments of women in healthcare and to honor their contributions to global healthcare. International Women’s Day 2024 was marked by these awards, which aim to highlight the importance of supporting women in healthcare and promoting academic study in all communities. The event featured speeches from Dr. Cathy Ratcliff, CEO of EMMS International, Dr. Kerri Baker, Dean of Education at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and Professor Linda Bauld OBE, the Bruce and John Usher Chair of Public Health in The Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh and Chief Social Policy Advisor to the Scottish government.
The awards were divided into four categories, including the Dr. Elsie Inglis Award, which recognizes a woman who is promoting gender equality in the medical profession. The Rising Star Award celebrates a woman who shows potential and dedication to a career in healthcare, while the Outstanding Leader Award honors a professional who is supporting other women in their healthcare careers. The Health Tech Award, in line with the United Nations’ theme for International Women’s Day 2024, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” recognizes a woman making strides in the health tech industry and paving the way for others to join her.
A panel of prominent experts, including Professor Linda Bauld OBE, reviewed the applications for these awards. Bauld, who sat on the judging panel for the Outstanding Leader Award, stated, “Women are underrepresented in healthcare leadership. Recognizing their contribution and inspiring colleagues to follow in their footsteps is key to building resilient health systems.”
EMMS International, Scotland’s longest-serving and internationally respected healthcare charity, launched these awards. The organization has been supporting women to enter the healthcare profession for over a century and is dedicated to improving healthcare in the most hard-to-reach areas in Nepal, Malawi, and India. Dr. Cathy Ratcliff, CEO and Director of International Programmes for EMMS International, says, “Our Healthcare Career Pathways support women to obtain healthcare qualifications, reducing the impact of gender inequality while promoting academic study and developing sustainable care for the most vulnerable families. These women are crucial to providing access to quality healthcare in communities across the world, and their achievements should be – and will be – celebrated.”
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, whose members include Dr. Elsie Inglis, Dr. Annie Wardlaw Jagannadham, and Dr. Isabella Pringle, supports these awards. Professor Andrew Elder, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, states, “The RCPE has a strong history of bringing together international experts and role models to explore barriers and solutions to women in medicine, leadership, and women’s health and wellbeing. These awards celebrate the women who are successful in their respective fields throughout all areas of healthcare and highlight the impact of female leaders on clinical care.”
The awards ceremony took place in Edinburgh, a city known for its prolific medical education and research. It is home to the University of Edinburgh Medical School, the oldest medical school in the English-speaking world. The winners of the awards are as follows:
• Dr. Elsie Inglis Award, sponsored by Edinburgh College – Presented by Professor Angela Thomas OBE, this award is given to a woman who champions gender equality in the medical profession.
Winner: Dr. Kate Womersley, recognized for her work to drive the adoption of a new minimum standard for inclusion of sex and gender in science, changing the face of medical and social research in the UK. Womersley is a doctor in Psychiatry and her research is funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Runner-Up: Dr. Amina Khan, recognized for her pioneering breast-conserving surgeries in Pakistan. Dr. Khan is a Surgical Oncologist at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore, Pakistan.
Shortlist:
• Donna Brough
• Dr. Gwenetta Curry
• Dr. Punam Krishan
• The Rising Star Award, sponsored by Johnston Mailing – Presented by Dr. Kerri Baker, this award is given to a woman who shows potential and dedication to a career in healthcare.
Winner: Dr. Maneh Gizhlaryan, recognized for her work in pediatric hematology and stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in Armenia, benefiting current patients and inspiring other young women to enter medicine, science, and academia. Dr. Gizhlaryan is a Pediatric Hemato-Oncologist at the Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Centre of Armenia, Yeoly
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