The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) is a professional advocacy and educational organization of

women physicians The presence of women in medicine, particularly in the practicing fields of surgery and as physicians, has been traced to the earliest of history. Women have historically had lower participation levels in medical fields compared to men with occu ...

and medical students. Founded in 1915 by

Bertha Van Hoosen Bertha Van Hoosen (March 26, 1863 – June 7, 1952) was an American surgeon devoted to women's health issues and the advancement of fellow women surgeons. Among other notable achievements, Van Hoosen was the first president and a founder of the Ame ...

, the AMWA works to advance women in medicine and to serve as a voice for women's health. The association used to publish the ''Journal of the American Medical Women's Association''; the ''

Journal of Women's Health The ''Journal of Women's Health'' is a monthly peer-reviewed healthcare journal focusing on women's health care, including advancements in diagnostic procedures, therapeutic protocols for the management of diseases, and research in gender-based ...

'' is now the official journal of the AMWA.

Honors

The AMWA honors women physicians each year with four awards. * The Elizabeth Blackwell Medal, named for

Elizabeth Blackwell Elizabeth Blackwell (3 February 182131 May 1910) was a British physician, notable as the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, and the first woman on the Medical Register of the General Medical Council for the United Ki ...

, the first woman awarded an

M.D. Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. T ...

from an American medical school, is granted to "a woman physician who has made the most outstanding contributions to the cause of women in the field of medicine." * The

Award, named in honor of the Founder and first President of AMWA, honors "a woman physician who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to AMWA." * The Lila A. Wallis Award, named for one of AMWA’s Past Presidents, is given to an individual whose lifetime achievements and values reflect those of Wallis. * The Woman in Science Award is given to a woman physician who "has made exceptional contributions to medical science, especially in women’s health." The AMWA also established The International Women in Medicine Hall of Fame to recognize contributions made by women in the medical profession. The more than two dozen inductees include the first woman physician, Elizabeth Blackwell; and two former Surgeon Generals of the United States

Antonia Novello Antonia Coello Novello, M.D., (born August 23, 1944) is a Puerto Rican physician and public health administrator. She was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as 14th Surgeon General of the United States from ...

and Joycelyn Elders. In 2010, the inductees were Linda A. Randolph, president and CEO of the Developing Families Center, an innovative model for healthcare delivery to poor families; and

Diana Zuckerman Diana M. Zuckerman (born 16 June 1950) is an American health policy analyst who focuses on the implications of policies for public health and patients' health. She specializes in national health policy, particularly in women's health and the sa ...

, a health policy expert who is president of the National Research Center for Women & Families. The latter is the first non-physician inducted.

Publications

The AMWA has published a number of books, primarily in the field of women's health. * * * * * * * * * *

References

External links

* * {{authority control Medical associations based in the United States Organizations for women in science and technology Organizations established in 1915 Medical and health organizations based in Pennsylvania Women in medicine