CCMS, in conjunction with partnering county medical societies, recently co-hosted the first-ever South Florida Women Physicians Retreat. The event at the Hyatt House Naples on May 2-3 welcomed nearly 90 attendees for a weekend of CME, collaboration, and motivation.
CCMS member and event chair Rebekah Bernard, MD, who chairs the FMA Women’s Physician Committee, curated a line-up of speakers from across the state who shared their expertise on the theme, “Nurturing Wellness for Women Physicians: Career, Family, and Fertility”.
“My vision for the conference was to provide opportunities for medical students, residents, and early career physicians to meet with more seasoned women physicians to share and learn from each other,” said Dr. Bernard. “The turnout and participation from our women physician community exceeded my expectations.”
“As a resident about to start my attending career, I felt so lucky to be part of an event where women were sharing their real and raw personal experiences both in life and in medicine,” commented attendee April Burton, DO. “It was incredibly validating and inspiring to hear from the wisdom of the group. I hope this was the first of many, and I am excited to attend again in the future.”
Physician attendees represented multiple specialties and practice types. While most were from southwest Florida, many were from Florida’s east coast, and attendees travelled from as far away as Key West, Gainesville, and Tallahassee, such as FSU medical students Stephanie Galindo and Mariela Vega. Galindo and Vega are past recipients of the Foundation of CCMS Dr. William and Nancy Lascheid Scholarship for Medical Students.
Presentations at the conference included:
- “Fertility Preservation and Elective Egg Freezing: What Women Physicians Need to Know” – Connie Alford MD, CCMS member, Reproductive Endocrinologist
- “From Barely Surviving to Thriving: an open discussion of healthy boundaries with work and family, exploring our unmet needs, and accepting our limitations” – Stacy Greeter MD, Psychiatrist
- “Cultivating Meaningful Connections for Career and Life Balance” – Kathryn Tapper MD, CCMS member, Family Physician
- “Different Paths to Building a Family as a Woman Physician” – Panelists: Heather Doty DO, Family Physician; Stacy Greeter MD, Psychiatrist; Sara Lane MD, Pediatrician; Cherrie Morris MD, OB/GYN
- “Paving the Way: Lessons from Women Physician Leaders” – Panelists: Nicole Bentze DO, FSU College of Medicine Regional Campus Dean (Sarasota); Catherine Kowal MD, CCMS member, Florida Society of Rheumatology President-Elect; Vicki Norton MD, American Academy of Emergency Medicine President-Elect; Asha Padmanabhan MD, Florida Society of Anesthesiologists President
Roundtable breakouts allowed attendees to explore the topics further with their colleagues. Welcome and closing receptions provided additional opportunities for networking and connection.
The retreat was made possible by presenting sponsors IVFMD and Women in Healthcare, along with support from Physicians for Patient Protection, Florida Medical Association, and Attorney Linda Minck. Thank you to the co-hosting medical societies of Broward, Collier, Dade, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Palm Beach, and Sarasota.