The Women in MICCAI (WiM) was established to strengthen and widen the representation of female scientists in the MICCAI community by encouraging more female participation in the field and ensure fair and equitable career promotion for female faculty and students.
This year's WiM lunch event titled, Women in AI & Healthcare: Their Journeys and Contributions, and offers attendees an unforgettable opportunity to learn from leaders committed to advancing equity in healthcare. The event will feature seven esteemed panelists from both academia and industry, who will share their unique career journeys and provide valuable insights into overcoming challenges and achieving success and will be held today from 12:30 - 1:30 in the Oliveraie Meeting Room.
Seating is limited so RSVPing in advance is strongly encouraged.
We met with Ruogu Fang, President of Women in MICCAI, to learn more about the Women in MICCAI luncheon event and the other exciting initiatives that are being introduced this year to encourage the next generation of female scientists.
Q. The Women in MICCAI lunch event has become a very popular event at each MICCAI conference. When did WiM start hosting the luncheon series?
The WiM Luncheon Networking Event first began at the MICCAI 2019 conference, and since then, it has grown into one of the most anticipated gatherings at each conference. This event has become a key space for connection, mentorship, and community-building, drawing attendees from various backgrounds to discuss important issues like gender equity and career development in medical image computing and computer-assisted interventions.
Q. The Women in MICCAI has worked hard to advance the role of female scientists in the MICCAI community. Which initiatives are you personally the proudest of?
I am most proud of the WiM Inspiring Diversity initiative, which has created meaningful opportunities for female scientists and engineers to be recognized for their achievements. Through awards like the WiM Best Health Equity Paper and Best Oral Presentation, we're not only highlighting excellence but also promoting research that directly addresses health disparities.
Another initiative I hold dear is the Health Equity in AI Era Webinar Series, which has provided a platform for diverse voices to discuss equitable AI advancements, bringing together thought leaders to inspire action in our community.
Q. What new initiatives is WiM developing for this year?
This year, we're thrilled to spotlight our newly launched webinar series, Health Equity in the AI Era: A Humanistic Approach to Fair and Equitable Medical AI. This event will feature recipients of the WiM Award for Best Health Equity Paper and leading experts from academia and industry, who will discuss their work on health equity in AI. It will serve as an invaluable forum for sharing best practices, fostering collaboration, and advancing the conversation around equitable medical AI solutions.
Additionally, we're excited to expand our initiatives with a focus on fostering global collaborations and mentorship. We plan to launch a new WiM Mentorship Program in collaboration with MICCAI Society Mentorship Program that pairs junior female researchers with senior female leaders in the field, offering guidance on career development and research strategies. We are focusing on strengthening connections with industry partners to provide more opportunities for collaboration and career growth to women in the MICCAI community.
These initiatives reflect our commitment to supporting the next generation of diverse talent in MICCAI and advancing health equity through interdisciplinary research.