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Recap of the First Annual Mid-Atlantic ACC WIC Conference
In April, the Mid-Atlantic ACC Women in Cardiology (WIC) Conference made its debut at Heart House in Washington, DC. The conference included a myriad of esteemed speakers and participants including medicine residents, current cardiology fellows and cardiologists at different stages in their careers. The night before the conference, a pre-event kick-off cocktail reception was held which served as a delightful opportunity for all attendees to interact with each other and the speakers in a relaxed and informal environment.
Renee Bullock-Palmer, MBBS, FACC, governor-elect of ACC's New Jersey Chapter; Andrea M. Russo, MD, FACC; and Carmel Bogle, MD, kicked-off the conference by sharing their experiences as cardiologists in their particular fields, the challenges they faced and their leadership. They led an insightful discussion on how to showcase their worth during salary negotiations and the hurdles of research and advancement during their careers.
Priya Sekar, MD, MPH, and Shetarra Walker, MD, then shared their unconventional path of working at the U.S Food and Drug Administration and how they made the transition from clinical cardiology to their present positions. They emphasized the significance of keeping an open mind toward unexpected paths. They shared the importance of networking in person and through online professional networks. Attendees then had the opportunity to view and discuss the interesting scientific cases and concepts seen in the Fellows in Training posters gallery.
The conference continued with CPA Thomas Folgia's riveting presentation titled "Take Charge of Your Financial Life or Someone Else Will." Mr. Folgia imparted valuable tips on financial management including the importance of getting your financial house in order, starting early and planning regularly. He equated taking care of your finances with taking care of your health and the importance of constructing helpful habits early on.
Nosheen Reza, MD, FACC; Amber Elaine Johnson, MD, MBA, FACC; and William Van Decker, MD, FACC, tackled critical issues such as advocacy, health equity and diversity. One topic that stood out was the idea that if you ask how to recruit a more diverse patient population, you've already missed the boat. They asserted that diversifying the research staff and proposals was the way to recruit a diverse patient population.
The conference then focused on women's heart programs, emphasizing the importance of understanding the business aspect of medicine. Garima Sharma, MBBS, FACC, astutely underscored the importance of “know your why" when embarking on the creation of a medically beneficial entity, while adeptly utilizing available resources to their full advantage. Additionally, Tala K. Al-Talib, MD, and others, imparted their insightful perspectives on the challenges they encountered and the innovative solutions they employed to build pioneering programs of immense value in their respective institutions.
Executive Coach for Healthcare Leaders James McKenna then conducted a session on initiating crucial conversations, overcoming barriers to communication and identifying solutions. He emphasized the need for practice in these areas. Attendees were put into groups and asked to work through a crucial conversation.
Next, a truly inspiring keynote was delivered by Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC. Her presentation titled "Creating a Leader: It Takes a Community" emphasized the value of community support in achieving success and that the path to leadership is seldom a solitary one. Dr. Mehran aptly drew attention to the progress that has been made in overcoming challenges faced by women in cardiology. However, she also noted that while rocks have been cleared, there remains a great deal of "gravel" that impedes our path forward. This gravel, representative of the small but significant hurdles that still exist, may be subtle but are equally impactful in slowing down progress towards equality. Dr. Mehran eloquently conveyed that although we have come a long way, there is still a considerable distance left to traverse on our journey towards greater inclusion and opportunity for all.
The conference ended on a high note with "What They Don't Teach You in Training" by Toniya Singh, MBBS, FACC, Dr. Reza and Dr. Russo. They discussed a diverse range of topics, from navigating social media and designing an ideal schedule as a cardiologist to the variety of choices and job options available to cardiologists. These choices include many different environments such as academia, hospital or private practice.
As attendees departed, they were greeted by an inspiring statue (see image) reminding them to "climb and lift," as per Dr. Mehran's words.
The conference left a lasting impression on all those present, evoking a sense of inspiration and anticipation for the next Mid-Atlantic ACC WIC Conference.
This article was written by Samira Teeri, MD, a medical resident at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, and member of ACC’s Internal Medicine Cardiology Program; Namratha Meda, MBBS, a medical resident, and member of ACC’s Internal Medicine Cardiology Program; Bhakti Thummar, MD, a medical resident at MedStar Washington Hospital Center; and Sukhbir Randhawa, DO, a medical resident at Samaritan Medical Center in Upstate NY, and member of ACC’s Internal Medicine Cardiology Program.
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