Blazing a Path for Women

Healthcare is intimately connected with women and it holds true at Mediclinic too: more than 70% of our employees are female.

We want these women to bring their skills to bear on every aspect of the organisation and at every level. In the past year, women have banded together to promote mentorship and career growth.

Women in surgery initiative

When Dr Valentina Giaccaglia moved to the UAE eight years ago, she was impressed by the prominence of women in medicine. In her native Italy, she had been the only female resident during her training. Intimidation and sexual harassment were not uncommon at the time.

But at City Hospital in Dubai, where she is now the Head of Surgery, women hold several senior positions, among them as the hospital’s Chief of Staff and various department heads. ‘We network during multidisciplinary meetings. The one for pelvic floor issues is particularly nice because we are only ladies on board. Surgeons, physiotherapists, gynaecologists and radiologists – all women!’

Valentina started the Women in Surgery Initiative with the goal of providing support, mentoring and training in the UAE, especially to women coming up through the ranks. ‘The idea is to create a new generation of female surgeons who are able to deal with everything that comes their way,’ she says.

For the initiative’s inaugural meeting in June 2023, she gathered a panel of high-profile female surgeons: Dr Muna Tahlak, CEO of the public Latifa Hospital and the first Emirati woman to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology; Dr Sara Al Bastaki, President and Founder of the Emirates Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery; Dr Noura Al Qassimi, President of the Emirates Society of Ophthalmology; and Dr Nahla Al Mansoori, Board Member of the Emirates Plastic Surgery Society.

They shared their challenges, like balancing family and career, but also their success stories. The gathering, which was hosted by City Hospital, drew 80 women, offering medical students and up-and-coming surgeons the chance to network with established professionals. Since then, the Women in Surgery WhatsApp group has grown to 95 members.

Based on the overwhelmingly positive response, Valentina hopes to organise a fully fledged congress with international speakers. There is still work that needs to be done. Although our Middle East division boasts two female orthopaedic surgeons, the specialisation remains dominated by men.

‘Female medical students are looking for role models, they crave connection with other women who are excelling in surgery. The impression they get from some male professors is that the field is too difficult, that they should opt for other specialties like family medicine.

‘Do not even think about giving up surgery because you are a woman,’ she tells fourth-year medical students in her annual talk. While there are still some that discourage women, new voices say their sex could be an advantage rather than a hindrance. Research published in JAMA Surgery in October 2023 points to improved outcomes for patients treated by female surgeons, with reduced likelihood of readmission, among others.

Valentina puts it down to empathy. ‘When I was a young student, I was often criticised by my male peers for spending too much time with patients. But this has actually been my biggest strength throughout my career.’

Women Advancement Network

‘There are no people in a better position to effect change than the women whose lives and livelihoods are directly impacted by our decisions and policies as a business.’ So says Dr Natalie Hobbs, Care Coordination Development Specialist in Southern Africa and the head of the geography’s Woman Advancement Network. Launched in August 2023, during South Africa’s Women’s Month, the network seeks to empower women by providing an open forum for discussion as well as opportunities for training and development.

We know that advancing women at all levels in the workplace is vital for building a more equitable, representative workforce. The reality is that women remain underrepresented in the top echelons of business – a study by PWC of the top 100 companies on the South African stock exchange showed that just over a quarter of executive appointments between 2020 and 2022 were women. That is why, already in 2020, we set a target of at least 40% female representation at senior level.

To reach that goal, female employees must be empowered to throw their hat in the ring. ‘The most effective way to succeed is by learning from those who have gone before you – those who have charted a path for you,’ says Natalie. That is where the network comes in: it creates a space for women to have meaningful conversations on building healthcare careers and share perspectives on the type of support that will enable success.

Mediclinic is a global company with a large geographical footprint; however, we realised the value of starting small and growing this initiative from grassroots level from within our localities in South Africa. We invited all our employees to join the Women’s Advancement Network and conducted a survey for insight into the issues that move them. The survey results spoke to themes of mentorship, career progression, and the interplay between work and women’s physical and mental health.

The network was officially launched at Mediclinic’s Corporate Office on 16 August 2023, with members attending in person or via live virtual stream. Our keynote speaker, Joy-Marie Lawrence, a businesswoman and board coach, inspired the audience to grow an inclusive and diverse network to benefit women working at all levels within Mediclinic.

‘Our vision is that the women within our organisation will find what they are looking for with the help of their colleagues and the support of leadership. Opportunities to grow, opportunities to learn and opportunities to share,’ says Gale Shabangu, Chief Transformation Officer for Southern Africa.

Female employees in the region have several impressive women to look to for inspiration, like Dr Melanie Stander, General Manager Clinical Services, and Dr Lindsay Petersen, who heads up Mediclinic Precise in Southern Africa. In 2023, Humsha Ramgobin, the division’s Chief Human Resources Officer, took on the role for the entire Group. With the support of the Women Advancement Network, we look forward to several more women joining them.