A note from the WPS chair
September 2026
From WPS Chair , Tiffani Bell Washington, MD, MBA, MPH
Women in Medicine Month
September is Women in Medicine Month, a time to celebrate the extraordinary contributions women physicians make to medicine, our patients, our families, our communities, and the world. Please join us on Sept. 23 at noon Central for our member-exclusive webinar, “Improving Women’s Health Outcomes: Addressing Disparities Across Clinical Care.” The program will examine disparities affecting women across gastroenterology, cardiology, and vascular surgery. Register for the webinar.
Volunteer and prepare for I-26
Members who want to become more involved in policymaking may volunteer for the WPS House of Delegates Handbook Review Committee by Sept. 24. Committee members review reports and resolutions that may affect women in medicine and patient health and help recommend appropriate WPS action. Volunteer for the committee.
Join us for the 2026 WPS Interim Meeting on Nov. 6 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida. The meeting offers an important opportunity to connect with colleagues, participate in WPS business, mentor fellow women physicians and help shape our advocacy priorities. Registration is required and is free for AMA members. Visit the meeting information page to register and for more information.
Impact of women physicians
Women physicians serve as clinicians, researchers, educators, mentors, advocates, innovators, and leaders. We care for patients during their most vulnerable moments, advance scientific discovery, improve healthcare systems, and help shape the next generation of medicine. Our impact also extends beyond our professional roles into our homes and communities.
To our medical students, residents, fellows, and early-career physicians who are still trying to find their place, please remember that you belong in medicine. You do not need to have your entire career mapped out today. Your path may evolve as you discover new interests, enter different seasons of life, or reconsider what success means to you. A changing path is not a failed path.
You are also allowed to pursue a meaningful career without sacrificing your entire self to medicine. Work-life balance will not look the same for every physician or remain perfectly balanced in every season. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to create a life and career that are sustainable, fulfilling, and aligned with your values. Your health, family, relationships, and joy are not obstacles to professional success. They are part of a full and meaningful life.
Suicide Prevention Month
As we celebrate women physicians, we must also acknowledge the impact of burnout and the ongoing crisis of physician suicide. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and Sept. 17 is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. These observances remind us that the people who care for others also need and deserve care.
Burnout is not simply a failure of individual resilience. Excessive workloads, administrative burdens, workplace inequities, moral distress, caregiving responsibilities, and cultures that discourage vulnerability can have profound effects on physician well-being. Addressing burnout requires both personal support and meaningful changes within the systems in which we train and practice.
We must continue building a culture in medicine where asking for help is viewed as an act of strength, physicians can access confidential mental healthcare without stigma or fear, and leaders take responsibility for creating healthier workplaces.
This month, I encourage each of us to check on a colleague, support a trainee, mentor a young physician, and advocate for systems that allow physicians not only to serve, but also to thrive.
To every woman in medicine: Your work matters. Your voice matters. Your health matters. Your life beyond medicine matters. You matter.
If you or someone you know needs immediate support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Free and confidential support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
