My time in charge of something

I’m proud of myself for setting up WiMIN and am glad it will be able to continue without me

In December 2017, I built a website. I made it using one of those free* online paint-by-numbers website builder platforms, and I was delighted with myself.

(*It was not free. Nothing on the internet is, least of all the ‘free’ stuff.)

I used this rudimentary landing page as a focal point for a new organisation I had decided to set up, aimed at doctors who are women, and who might like to chat about what that means for them.

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.

I had no knowledge of setting up anything. I had joined one of the longest-established general practices in Cork. One of the former GPs there was renowned for visiting his patients in his pony and trap. I am the youngest in a family of six, so I rarely got to make any significant decisions and was certainly never in charge of anything. I didn’t Chair the MedSoc, or captain a team, or do anything remotely leader-like.

So when I decided I’d like to talk to other female doctors about stuff to do with being a female doctor, I definitely did not envisage that I would be then somehow ‘In Charge of Something’.

But it sort of developed that way. The website was called www.wimin.ie and the collection of women that evolved from it was called the Women in Medicine in Ireland Network. We met together in a hotel, where some people stood on the stage and spoke about topics of interest to the audience. We had food and drinks and chats. It turns out that is what people call ‘A Conference’.

We had some more of those. We added a room where professional childminders looked after my kids and some other women’s children while the conference was on. That’s called ‘Free Onsite Childcare’.

I decided I didn’t want to take money from pharmaceutical companies, because I had read the research that shows the level of unconscious influence that pharma funding can have on conference attendees. So we asked other organisations for small amounts of money and we kept our expenditure low. That’s called ‘Not Spending A Load Of Money Just Because You Got It For Free’ (see note above re ‘free’ stuff).

The organisation evolved and thankfully some other great women came along to help, and to stop me from just making stuff up in my own little head.

And the time came where I was able to step down as Chair (I ended up with a leader-y title, despite my lack of qualification for it).

I am pleased that my little website didn’t flounder, and that people have good memories of the conferences and events they have attended. I am glad that the WiMIN organisation will continue without me, or with me being the irritating backseat driver chipping in with “well that’s not the way I did it” every five minutes.

I am sometimes asked for advice about running an organisation and I look over my shoulder to see what great sage the interviewer is interrogating, only to find they are asking me.

I don’t think I have any answers, except maybe these:

▶ Try not to piss people off;

▶ Reply to them courteously;

▶ Remember things about them;

▶ Respect their time;

▶ Never expect anything from anyone – be grateful, not critical;

▶ Include people who have a big circle of friends – they will always know someone who knows someone who can help;

▶ Have principles and stick to them;

▶ Don’t make it your whole identity;

▶ If you have a sympathy card, don’t overuse it.

I am so thankful for all the kind words and supportive messages I have had over the years, and the surprising lack of eye-rolling I have received for being a feminist. I am grateful to the small number of gentlemen who have emailed asking why they can’t come to our conferences (answer: Anyone is welcome to attend online, as all of our conferences are hybrid thanks to the wonderful work of the MedCafe team). I have received phenomenal support and encouragement from the WiMIN board and from the many volunteers who have helped with our conferences over the years. I am thrilled to be passing the reins on to the wonderful Dr Kate McCann, who will lead WiMIN into its next phase.

And I am delighted that our next conference will be held in Galway on Saturday 21 March 2026 and we plan to encourage everyone to jump into the sea the next day so that we can have our inaugural Swimmin’ WiMIN event!

You can register now at www.wimin.ie