The WAM (women in academic medicine) group was established to consider how best to tackle the relative lack of women in academic medicine compared with medicine generally, and the apparent lack of comparable career progression.

Our priorities

WAM's objectives are to identify actions that would enhance the position of women in academic medicine and to advise the MASC (medical academics staff committee) on any actions that it, or the wider BMA, should be taking to support this goal.

The group came about following the recommendations of the Women in Academic Medicine report, prepared by MASC and the BMA's health policy and economic research unit.

This was followed by further reports, which WAM monitors progress on, and topics including the gender pay gap in academic medicine.

• Gender pay gap in medicine and academic medicine.
• Women doctors: making a difference.

Current work

The group is currently working on:

• the analysis of its recent career progression survey
• a role models document to inspire women to consider a career in academic medicine
• responding to the academic chapter in the gender pay gap review report
• Building on work undertaken by the BMA Equality, Inclusion and Culture team for the NHS, we have prepared a model menopause policy for higher education. A copy will be sent to the university employers (UCEA) asking them to issue it to their subscribers. The BMA’s full resources on menopause can be found in our guidance called Menopause support in the workplace.

WAM webinar

We will also hold a webinar in connection with International Women’s day in March. We will also have a presence at the BMA’s annual Medical Academics Conference currently scheduled for Friday 12 June 2026.

WAM IWD webinar - Ending sexism, sexual harassment and violence against women in the medical and legal professions

To mark 2026 IWD, the BMA's WAM group hosted a cross professional webinar with colleagues from the legal profession on 10 March 2026 to spotlight the systemic issues of sexism, harassment and violence experienced by women across both professions. The event supported the 2026 IWD theme #GiveToGain, focusing on reciprocity, allyship, and practical support for women’s organisations, including Surviving in Scrubs and the Medical Women’s Federation. 

Our people

Co-Chairs: Dr Sarah Mills and Dr Caroline Jolley

Deputy Chair: Dr Angharad Davies

Our meetings

Meeting dates: 

• TBC

All meetings will take place virtually except for the conference which will be a hybrid event based at:

BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP

Conference

In 2021, the WAM group held its first virtual roundtable meeting at the BMA Medical Academics Conference. 

Aiming at celebrating women in academic medicine, and raising awareness of the common hurdles they face, the event panel focused its attention on:

• Role models - Carmen Soto introduced the role models document and the reasons behind it: the alarming data on the exit of women from academic medicine, and a growing need for role models to tackle this. Published for International Women’s Day, the document highlights the importance of having a diverse workforce that fully represents the society in which it works
• Teachers, educators and researchers - part of the wider work on participation in research. Funding and the Research Excellence Framework are key factors facing researchers alongside the importance of doctors identifying themselves as educators, and the need for more dedicated teachers to respond to the growing number of medical students
• Career progression - part-time and home-workers are often less likely to be promoted, having a direct impact on representation from women and minorities in the workforce. Members are encouraged to call out any lack of representation in meetings.

The WAM group, together with the Medical academic staff committee, will continue working on these priorities. 

Watch the webcast

Get in touch

If you are interested in finding out more about WAM, please contact [email protected].