Athena SWAN Sanjay Purkayastha CSL Bariatric Surgery

Scientific women in medicine Marie Curie ( ) Famous For: Work on radioactivity Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only woman to win this award in two categories: Physics and Chemistry. She discovered polonium and radium and her work helped with the creation of X-rays. Rosalind Franklin ( ) Famous For: Research on RNA, DNA, graphite, coal and viruses Rosalind Franklin was a X-ray crystallographer and biophysicist whose work greatly contributed to the comprehension of molecular structures. Her most notable work revolved around X-ray diffraction images of DNA. Her work in this resulted in the finding of the DNA double helix.

What is Athena SWAN? SWAN – scientific women’s academic network The Charter was launched in June It aims to address gender imbalance within science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM). It recognises and celebrates good practice on recruiting, retaining and promoting women in STEMM. There are 3 levels of award, bronze, silver and gold. There are currently 260 institutions and department’s holding awards.

Why is it important? “It is the right thing to do.” Research Council UK (RCUK) expect those in receipt of Research Council (BRC) funding to provide evidence of participation in schemes such as Athena SWAN The application process enables us to reflect on current practices that promote gender equality. It provides a framework for introducing cultural changes that create a better working environment for BOTH men AND women. By 2015, Athena Swan accreditation at Silver award level will be a requirement when making funding applications to the NIHR, and it is expected other funding bodies will follow suit.

To address gender inequalities requires commitment and action from everyone, at all levels of the organisation To tackle the unequal representation of women in science requires changing cultures and attitudes across the organisation

High profile In 2011, the Chief Medical Officer announced that the NIHR would only expect to shortlist medical schools for biomedical research centre (BRC) and unit funding if the school holds a Silver Athena SWAN award. This was later expanded to include patient safety research centre funding too.

Initial Review Staff and Student Survey Group feedback Direct feedback HR Data Action Plan Events arranged Initiatives put in place Change Evaluation of change Application submission Feedback for review and further action plan development How does it work?

Athena SWAN An Athena SWAN Silver award is required for BRC funding Surgery and Cancer formed the Academic Opportunities committee (AOC), which first met in September 2013 A Departmental staff survey was taken in October 2013 with 49% of staff completing the survey Focus groups took place in November with 7 focus groups – attended by 55 people (approximately 10% of Department) - St Mary’s group was attended by 7 women and 0 men - Charing Cross had 9 women and 13 men attending, due to Alun Davies and Tony Gordon working hard to get people from all levels to attend A further focus group was convened to gather the perspectives and views of Clinical Academics in the Division of Surgery, which was attended by 10 female staff

The survey and Focus Groups fed into the Bronze Application and Action Plan, which was submitted in April 2014 – we were awarded Bronze status last week! The next stage is to get more people engaged in Athena SWAN and start implementing the changes set out in the Action plan The Silver application will be submitted in April 2015

The application for the bronze award demonstrated a lack of senior clinical academic staff in surgery…which needs to be addressed

Current Team Professor Lesley Regan Professor George Hanna Professor Roger Kneebone Professor Wendy Atkin Julia Anderson Professor Andrea Frilling Professor Alun Davies Dr Paul Strutton Dr Tony Gordon Dr Daqing Ma Kathryn Johnson Many others

Why am I involved? New appointment at ICL but know the Surgical department at ICNHT for 15 years Previous experience in providing educational program at UG level help with training for future female surgeons and for gender equality in surgery Academic surgeon with clinical practice Young family with wife who is a clinical academic too. Educational supervisor to 2 young female trainees who would be excellent as case studies for the Athena Swan silver application Have working knowledge of all surgical sites at the AHSC that is Imperial. My clinical team last year – I was the only man on the team!

Our next steps Evidence of impact of action plan Evidence of start of cultural shift Case studies – success stories Needed for Spring 2015 Silver application

Athena markers Baseline Data And Supporting Evidence UG and PG Students data / feedback Key Career Transition Points, Appointments, Promotions Career Advice and Support Culture, Communications and Development Organization

Possibilities for Athena SWAN in ICL What's on for students and employees ? Career Development Talks Careers Service Sessions Women in Science talks Jobs and Careers website pages e.g. S&C blog and S&C lifestyle webpage about to be launched Family friendly events Focus groups

Suggested activities and male/female likely uptake Activity Men Women Mentoring60%69% Coaching54%61% Leadership initiatives66%69% Gender based networking13%47% Gender equality symposiums33%43% Career transition27%56% Virtual networking32%54% Promotions workshops63%66% Career and personal development workshops52%79% HWU Governance workshops41%39% Capacity building for committees/boards workshops50%47% Work-life balance Workshops29%30%

Women in surgery In Western civilization, the earliest account dates to 3500 before common era (BCE) at the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia. Flint and bronze surgical instruments were uncovered from the grave of Queen Shubad of Ur. Dating to 1500 BCE, there were female medical students in Heliopolis, Egypt. In ancient Greece around 500 common era (CE), Leto,wife of Zeus and mother of Apollo, cured the wounds of Arneas, the founder

Just over a century ago…. Eleanor Davies-Colley became the first female FRCS in 1911

More recently…. Statistics from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that in 2011, 55% of those accepted on to medical degree courses in the UK were women, however in the same year just 26% of surgical specialty trainees were women, and women made up only 8.7% of consultant surgeons.

Surgery at ICL UG - Alison McGregor is President of the Student Surgical Society – invited by the students After bronze award – shown to need more well balanced structure and MORE female clinical academic surgeons Currently 4 CLs, 0 CSLs, 0 Readers, 1 Prof Previously 1 Prof (Averil Mansfield); 1 CSL (Averil Chang) Why?

What’s already out there? Women in surgery at RCS (UK) Association of women surgeons (USA) Women in surgery RCS (Australia) Industry examples non medical Workshops Leadership roles Focus groups Mentor – mentee relationships

What else can we do? Accept there is an issue! Work on our weaknesses Communicate with the relevant stake holders from UG – PG groups Listen! Work out different ways of working? Identify future female surgeons and nurture them Make the specialty more appealing Infra structure aids – Working patterns – Child care – Transport Help to change attitudes and educate others Lead by example Look for examples of better working practice and departments and senior female academic surgeons in other institutions internationally Be involved on a one to one level when necessary.

A Accept we as a division / department could do better

AT Accept we as a division / department could do better Take on board new problems

ATH Accept we as a division / department could do better Take on board new problems Help those already in the system

ATHE Accept we as a division / department could do better Take on board new problems Help those already in the system Engage ourselves and others

ATHEN Accept we as a division / department could do better Take on board new problems Help those already in the system Engage ourselves and others Nurture our juniors (and our colleagues!)

ATHENA SWAN Accept we as a division / department could do better Take on board new problems Help those already in the system Engage ourselves and others Nurture our juniors (and our colleagues!) Address issues efficiently

Thank you and questions?