The Global Women Leaders Programme (GWLP) was launched to align with International Women’s Day in 2022 with the ambition to help empower women in healthcare globally to reach their full potential. The programme is run in collaboration with the RCP Education Team and piloted in Pakistan.
The GWLP targets women at key transitional stages of their careers and trained champions provide guidance and support throughout each stage.
Hear from Amina Afzal, GWLP participant, and Professor Dr Nazish Imran, GWLP champion, as they share their stories on why they entered into a career in medicine, how the programme has empowered them, and who inspires them:
Dr Amina Afzal – Head of dermatology and assistant professor at Nawaz Sharif Medical College in Gujrat, Pakistan, and a participant in the Global Women Leaders Programme.
What made you want to get involved with the Global Women Leaders Programme and how has it empowered you?
My experiences exposed me to various leadership styles, some inspiring and others, unfortunately, not so much. This made me want to be a person who empowers others as I believe it is important to be inclusive and help women reach their full potential. The Global Women Leaders Programme aligns perfectly with these values, offering an invaluable platform to develop leaders who will drive positive change and leave a lasting impact.
I aspire to play a pivotal role in the empowerment of women. Shortly after having participated in the programme, I was promoted to a leadership position as the head of department (dermatology). This position has set me on the path to ‘shattering the glass ceiling’. To implement reforms that will enable other women around me to do the same, I have initiated the establishment of a day care centre within my department to ensure that mothers can be involved at work with less worries. In collaboration with a women-led welfare organisation and women from various disciplines of medicine, we successfully treated 50+ families at the free medical camp for female-centric diseases. By bringing together female physicians and women from more humble communities, these physicians granted the community unrestricted access to medicine and treatment.
As a member of the Medical Women Association of Pakistan, I aim to help female physicians come together to point out issues that hinder their growth. This network of robust women brainstorm solutions for their problems, addressing them effectively and efficiently. I have also taken the responsibility of conducting women's leadership workshops for the benefit of female physicians in Aziz Bhatti Hospital, Gujrat and Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Large-scale projects to cater to women in medicine are in the pipeline.
Why did you want to get involved in medicine?
Healing, to me, is a superpower and doctors are real-life superheroes. The natural calamities in my country always see a team of first responders who become the hope of many. I always wanted to be a part of that hope, to make a tangible difference in people's lives. How doctors, especially women who left their families behind, responded during the pandemic in particular was a case in point.
Is there a female figure in your life who inspires you?
Picking just one would be incredibly difficult. I've had the privilege of working alongside incredible women like Dr Chris Schmotzer who is a testament to dedication. With 35 years’ experience of fighting leprosy in Pakistan, she replaced the stigmatised ‘korh’ (کوڑھ) with the correct term ‘jizam’ (جذام) at every level – that's her legacy. Dr Shehla Shawkat is not only a mentor but has always been a constant support system. Also, Dr Mumtaz Patel, whose leadership during the Global Women Leadership Programme resonated deeply. Her approach makes everyone feel valued and her passion sparks hope for the future. These are just a few of the countless inspiring women I've encountered. Each one has left an indelible mark on me, shaping my perspective and inspiring me to be a better person.
What is a change you would like to see in medicine?
The pandemic has taught us a lot. Prioritising regulated telemedicine can do a lot of good for a lot of people and we should take advantage of the system devised during COVID-19 and deploy it for the masses. I am also a big advocate of integrating experiences and collaborating in real-time across borders, which can help patients in a way that reduces strain on existing healthcare systems across the globe. Quality healthcare is a basic human right and quality rests on both the system and the people involved.
Professor Dr Nazish Imran – Head of department of child and family psychiatry at King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, and a champion who supported the Global Women Leaders Programme.
Why did you want to get involved in medicine?
I grew up at a time when there were limited career choices. Mathematics was not my strong point and as I was interested in science and biology, medicine, being a prestigious and respected profession, appeared more appealing. Personal experience of knowledge about my father’s inability to pursue a career in medicine due to his family responsibilities and circumstances inspired me to fulfil his dream of his children becoming a healthcare provider and making a positive impact on people’s lives.
What made you want to get involved with the Global Women Leaders Programme and how has it empowered you?
I was drawn to the Global Women Leaders Programme because of its focus on empowering women physicians and promoting gender equality in healthcare leadership. I have encountered and observed my colleagues facing many obstacles and hurdles in professional life, as a woman employed in a low- to middle-income nation, and I think initiatives such as these are crucial to resolving these problems and building a healthcare system that is more inclusive and equal.
Participating in the Global Women Leader’s Programme has been a transformative experience for me in several ways. Firstly, it has helped me to connect with a network of inspiring women physicians from all over Pakistan who shared their experiences and insights, which was a great learning experience. A major outcome of the networking was the launching of the Women’s Medical Association of Pakistan, where I am currently the lead of the research section, planning different collaborative projects. The GWLP also provided me with knowledge and skillsets that helped me to become a more effective leader and advocate for change. I now have the courage to take action on issues that are important to me, like ensuring a safe working place for women physicians, mentoring young leaders, and providing guidance and encouragement to colleagues in my sphere of influence. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.
Is there a female figure in your life who inspires you?
My mother. Despite her lack of formal education, she has always been a source of inspiration for me. Her unwavering resilience, ability to overcome adversity, and face challenges with grace and unconditional love have made me the person I am today. She taught me to be humble, work to the best of my ability and be optimistic about the outcome.
What is a change you would like to see in medicine?
As a doctor working in a low-middle-income country, I would like to see more women physicians being recognised and respected for their contributions to the field; more resources and support to help women in healthcare to balance their professional careers with personal and family responsibilities; academic institutions actively addressing obstacles to women's advancement in leadership roles; and increased advocacy to ensure that women’s concerns taken seriously at all levels of the healthcare system. These are additional significant changes that I would like to see in medicine in future.
For more information, or to get involved in supporting the Global Women Leaders Programme email: global@rcp.ac.uk.
If you are a women doctor who is facing barriers to leadership roles in the UK, apply now for the RCP Emerging Women Leaders programme.