It's easy to be a mentor! Most of us have chosen medical careers to help others, and as women, we probably would like to see more girls pick a medical or scientific career. So, in 1999, AWS collaborated with the National Institutes of Health to produce a 24 minute video entitled Women Are Surgeons. This video is targeted at girls aged 13 and 14 to plant the seed of surgery as a viable career. By planting the seed early, in junior high school, we can encourage girls to take math and science courses throughout their schooling, so that all career options are open to them.

In this video, narrated by Christine Lahti, girls and boys are interviewed and have the opportunity to ask questions of three AWS members. The video portrays the day-to-day experience of these three women surgeons whose lives are comprised of active surgical practices, academic leadership and personal demands. We have developed a brochure that outlines the steps necessary to fulfill the dream of becoming a surgeon. Brochures are distributed with each video.

What Can You Do?

Presenting school-aged girls with doctors in different fields is a great way to make it clear that being a doctor and a woman in the 21^st century is not a rare event. Visit your local Junior High or participate in a High School career fair as a real-life surgeon, speak to young women and make an impact on their career choices. A woman physician who is present and available to answer questions and to inspire thoughts of scientific careers will have an even greater impact. This is an excellent opportunity for Junior High girls to be able to talk to a surgeon and find out what it takes to enter into medicine. If time does not permit you to pay a visit, take a copy of this video to every junior high and middle school (public/private/parochial) in your local community and let the video speak for itself.

To order free copies of this video, click here.