{"id":4942,"date":"2017-04-25T07:00:23","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T12:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/feminem.org\/?p=4942"},"modified":"2017-07-16T23:07:39","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T04:07:39","slug":"first-100-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/feminem.org\/2017\/04\/25\/first-100-days\/","title":{"rendered":"The First 100 Days"},"content":{"rendered":"
When FemInEM launched in September 2015 we knew we were going to touch on some sensitive topics. <\/span>Gender equity, medicine, profession roles, parenthood, equal pay<\/span><\/i> – we looked forward to tackling these issues as a community. We thought an easily accessible platform with open communication we could help mobilize women and men to meaningfully contribute to difficult conversations. <\/span><\/p>\n And that\u2019s basically what happened. As soon as the website launched, we received incredible submissions from authors all over the world, many writing publicly for the first time. \u00a0Some discussed gender based bias. Others reflected on personal stories of parenthood or wellness. We had expected FemInEM would eventually serve as an \u201cadvocate\u201d for gender equity in the workplace and equal pay for women physicians, but I don\u2019t think any of us expected to get more \u201cpolitical\u201d than that. <\/span><\/p>\n And then the tides changed.<\/span><\/p>\n Ahead of the 2016 Presidential election, we started to receive articles on the possibility of a female president. One of these articles <\/span>Hillary and My Mom <\/span><\/a>was about Dr. Liz Mitchell\u2019s relationship with her own mom and what Hillary\u2019s nomination meant to her; as a woman, daughter and doctor. \u00a0Personal, yes. \u00a0Political, maybe. \u00a0Controversial, definitely not. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n November 2016 noticeably shifted that landscape. Immediately after the election, we received numerous submissions from women physicians on healthcare politics, women\u2019s health and the historical women\u2019s marches. \u00a0Our content was evolving, reflecting the energy (and anxiety) of women physicians around the world. <\/span><\/p>\n And they\u2019re not just talking, women physicians are doing something. During attempted repeal and replacement of Affordable Care Act, <\/span>Dr. Kathie Allen<\/span><\/a> announced she was running for congress in Utah\u2019s 3<\/span>rd<\/span> District. Jason Chaffetz, that district\u2019s incumbent congressman was quoted<\/a> as saying \u201c<\/span>Americans have choices\u2026 rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love\u2026they should invest that in health care.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Allen\u2019s response to his statement was clear. She declared her candidacy to unseat him. According to Dr. Allen: \u201cMore medically trained people are needed in government. We can critically examine symptoms, synthesize them, and render an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Congress is ailing and we have a prescription.\u201d<\/em> Dr. Allen raised nearly half a million dollars in the first days.<\/p>\n Using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, women physicians are coming together and making a difference. The group Women Physicians for Humanity<\/strong> was created to bring together \u201c<\/span>a community of humanitarians who can work together for a better world! As physicians we are more privileged than most to advocate and raise awareness.\u201d \u00a0They are currently raising money to commission a plane of food to be sent to South Sudan in response to the severe famine in that country. (Here is the donation link<\/a>.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Facebook group \u201cPhysician Women for Democratic Principles\u201d has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for groups like the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the Southern Poverty Law Center. There are likely scores of stories like these to report.<\/span><\/p>\n Regardless of our own personal political affiliations, it is impractical and, in my opinion, irresponsible to remain apolitical at a time like this. \u00a0There are too many issue on the table that affect our patients, our families and ourselves. \u00a0At FemInEm, we expect and respect diverse views on topics, like women\u2019s reproductive rights and health care reform,\u00a0but we want to facilitate open conversation and active engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n