Associate Professor Phillippa Poole BSc, MD, FRACP is a graduate of the University of Auckland general physician at Auckland City Hospital, and a past president of the IMSANZ the specialist society for specialist general physicians. She spent 10 years as the programme leader for the Auckland medical programme and now has involvement in prevocational and RACP education. Major research interests include the predictive validity of tools used for selecting medical students, women in medicine, vertical integration of training, and evidence-based management of COPD. Her MD was on medical workforce development in NZ.
| Feminisation of the WorkForce | |||
| Friday, 08 June 2012 | Start 12:05pm | Duration: 20mins | Baytrust |
For over 20 years, the proportion of women graduating from medical schools in NZ has exceeded 50%, yet there are not yet equal proportions by gender in each specialty, nor in higher levels of the profession. Barriers are added to by inflexibility in training and health systems. This paper aims to present workforce trends and data on career choices by gender, before arguing that women should be regarded as solutions to medical workforce shortages, rather than being the cause. Systems and attitudes need to change if women are to fulfil their potential in medicine.