08 March 2021
On International Women's Day, we asked some of our amazing speakers at our upcoming Annual Conference to tell us what it's like being a woman in rheumatology, and what their career highlight is.
I particularly like being a rheumatologist because, in addition to being an interesting and a multi-disciplinary specialty with access to innovative therapies, it’s a very ‘caring’ specialty, which strives on a holistic approach that highlights our versatility, allowing us to stretch our multi-faceted skills. We are inquisitive, knowledgeable, ambitious and empathetic people in rheumatology!
My most recent career highlight would be the opportunity to lead as the Editor-in-Chief of BSR's Rheumatology Advances in Practice – an open access journal. It’s a role that excites me as I get to work with an enthusiastic and creative team towards the same vision for the journal. This adds another dimension to being a clinician and an academic researcher, a truly fulfilling position!
Prof Karen Walker-Bone, professor and honorary consultant, occupational rheumatology
Being a woman in rheumatology is a privilege – rheumatology is a discipline with so many fantastic multidisciplinary colleagues, patients for whom we can make real positive changes to their lives and a field which is full of opportunity for making new scientific discoveries because we still have so much more to understand.
My career highlight is attending the wedding of a young lady patient who had been wheelchair-bound in her mid-20s and watching her walk up the ancient stone steps of a historic tower to her wedding ceremony on the first floor and take her first dance with her husband, thanks to modern management of her disease!
Dr Janet McDonagh, clinical senior lecturer, paediatric and adolescent rheumatology
I'm not sure being a woman in rheumatology is any different to being a man in rheumatology - it's busy, varied, fascinating, frustrating but always a privilege to support and look after children and young people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease as they grow up.
My career highlight is being awarded a travelling fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians in 1998, enabling me to spend time at the Adolescent Employment Readiness Centre, Children's National Medical Centre, Washington DC and the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. It was a two-month experience which truly shaped the rest of my career. My host, the inspirational rheumatologist Prof Patience White, has remained a dear friend and mentor since.
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