I had the pleasure of attending the annual Society of Women in Urology conference in Scottsdale Arizona. The theme of the conference was “Leading Ourselves” with tailored programming specifically aimed at helping students, residents, and attendings succeed both professionally and personally. I left the conference feeling challenged, empowered, and capable. The programming was multifaceted, providing practical advice on things such as finding balance, managing finances, and receiving feedback.
During the conference, I had the opportunity to meet and connect with urologists at various stages of training (medical students, residents, fellows, and attendings). The conference itself is geared towards networking and had plenty of opportunities to meet with residents and faculty from a variety of different programs.
Some personal highlights included reconnecting with a former med school classmate–now at another program, meeting with Dr. Cheryl Lee, and participating in the one-on-one speed mentoring program. New friendships with other female colleagues were formed through shared experiences and our passion for urology. While my time at the conference was limited, the lessons learned, and friendships made will be lifelong. I cannot wait to go back!
Lastly, perhaps most importantly, I would like to send a sincere thank you to Dr. Sneha Vaish, who I met at our annual Florida Urological society meeting, she not only informed me about the conference but helped coordinate grant funding for me to attend the conference in collaboration with Kevin Wade and the Solv Wellness team. Additionally, I would like to thank my program director—who without hesitation said yes to me taking the day off from clinical duties to attend the conference.
