Speakers - 2026

Title: Fundamentally Disconnected: We Have an Attitude Problem When It Comes to Women’s Health

Abstract

Women’s health is decades behind where it should be, for generations women have been left behind and treated as a secondary citizen in the healthcare system. We’ve been told that our hormones are too complicated, our pain is hysteria and we have bad judgement over our own body. This session examines the systemic, institutional attitude problem in women’s health and why it cannot be solved by technological advancement or a pharmaceutical breakthrough.

Beginning in the classroom, we must take a hard look at what we are teaching the next generation of clinicians. Beyond anatomy and physiology, what are the explicit and implicit messages being sent about women’s pain and their credibility? By identifying the subtle biases baked into medical education, we can see how the ‘hysterical woman’ narrative is born long before a student ever sees their first consultation.

As we move into the consultation room, we see that medical gaslighting, misogyny and dismissive attitudes are rife. Women’s lived experiences are disregarded as evidence and their ability to make decisions are minimised leading to devastating consequences. When patients are framed as dramatic, psychosomatic and difficult, the clinical bond is severed and trust is broken. We’ll delve into the psychological and physical toll of being unheard, and how the current culture often prioritises efficiency over empathy.

However, the goal of this session is not just to draw attention to the problem but to offer solutions. We will explore practical, actionable tools and strategies for both clinicians and administrative staff to rebuild trust and deliver truly patient centered care. Moving from an authoritative ‘doctor knows best’ model to a collaborative partnership requires a shift in culture, not just a shift in policy.

Finally, we will examine the ‘power of being believed’. Through compelling case studies, we will see the tangible, life saving difference that clinical humility and validation make. We will demonstrate how believing a woman the first time, and intervening early, can prevent the kind of life changing organ damage and chronic trauma that has become all too common.