Women in Medicine and Science

WMed celebrates the contributions of women in medicine and science, and we strive to continuously promote the inclusion of women in academic medicine and science. WMed boasts two organizations to promote the development of women in medicine and science: the group for Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) and the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA).

The Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) group at WMed is modeled after the AAMC Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS). WIMS is focused on promoting the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in medicine and science. To accomplish this, WIMS sponsors professional development events that promote mentorship, networking, and career advancement among the female faculty, residents, and medical students at WMed. In addition, WIMS engages in community outreach to foster a love of math, science, and medicine in young girls in the Kalamazoo area. 

WIMS meets several times throughout the year and new members are welcome at all events. For more information on WIMS events, or to become a member of the WIMS Steering Committee, please contact Drs. Kirsten Porter-Stransky or Lisa Miller. If you would like to be added to the WIMS email list, please contact faculty.affairs@med.wmich.edu.

WIMS Events

  • Upcoming Events

    WIMS Writing Group 
    Do you want to make progress on scholarship? Do you need to get that abstract submitted or paper written? If so, join the WIMS writing group. Members share their scholarly triumphs and tribulations and provide peer support and accountability. Participates have found that the writing group helps protect time each month for them engage in scholarship. Come when you can, and if you have a scheduling conflict, find another 2-hour time block that month to dedicate to your research.

    • January 6, 2023, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
    • February 7, 2023, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
    • March 8, 2023, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
    • March 29, 2023, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
    • April 12, 2023, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
    • April 26, 2023, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
    • May 24, 2023, 9:00-11:00 a.m.


    Lunch and Learns 
    This series of events provides space for women in medicine and science to come together, catch up, and support each other’s professional development. Please bring your own lunch. Most meetings will be hybrid with a location in Upjohn campus and a Teams link for our members elsewhere. Calendar invites are forthcoming. The spring schedule includes:

    • Overcoming Obstacles for Medical Education Research | March 10, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m.  
    • Is It Impostor Syndrome or Something Else: Managing Self-Doubt, Bias, and Discrimination | April 28, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m.  
    • Women Working Toward Academic Promotion | May 19, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. 
  • Past Events

    WIMS Lunch and Learn
    Wednesday, September 4, 2019, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus, Classroom 111

    WIMS A Day in the Life
    Monday, October 7, 2019, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus, Classroom 111

    WIMS Lunch and Learn
    Wednesday, December 13, 2019, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus, TBL 1

    WIMS A Day in the Life: Covid-19
    Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 12:00-12:50 p.m.
    Via Microsoft Teams

    WIMS: A Day in the Life
    Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 5:30-7:00 PM
    Via Microsoft Teams

    WIMS Lunch and Learn
    Friday, October 23, 2020, Noon-1:00 PM
    Via Microsoft Teams

    Virtual CME Event on Human Trafficking
    Friday, October 23, 2020, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
    Via Microsoft Teams

    WIMS Lunch and Learn
    Friday, December 4, 2020, Noon-1:00 PM

    Women's History Month
    March is Women’s History Month! WIMS and the Medical Library invite you to recognize an inspiring woman in your life by writing her name on our Inspiration Boards located on the first and second floors of the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus during the month of March. 

    WIMS Lunch and Learn
    Friday, March 5, 2021, Noon-1:00 PM
    Via Microsoft Teams
    Topic: Women Working Towards Academic Promotion: A Discussion on Strategies for Success

    WMed AMWA, WIMS, Office of Diversity and Inclusiveness Presents: Understanding Gender Bias Today and Solutions to Address it
    Wednesday, April 28, 2021 | 12:00 1:00 p.m.
    Virtual Event

    WIMS Lunch and Learn
    Friday, May 7, 2021, Noon-1:00 PM
    Via Microsoft Teams

    AAMC Presents "Creating a Healing & Growing Space: A candid conversation between women of color and white women in the academy"
    Thursday, July 15, 2021, 11:30am
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus, Room 326
    Via Microsoft Teams

    WIMS Lunch & Learn
    Friday, September 24, 2021, Noon-1:00 p.m.
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus Classroom 211 or Microsoft Teams

    WIMS: A Day in the Life
    Wednesday, October 6, 2021, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus, TBL 2

    AWMA@WMed Presents "Cleaning the Sticky Floor and Shattering the Glass Ceiling"
    Presenter: Shikha Jain, MD, FACP
    Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 5:30-7:30pm
    Via Microsoft Teams

    WIMS Lunch and Learn
    Friday, January 21, 2022, Noon-1:00 p.m.
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus, Conference Room 110

    WIMS Lunch and Learn: Women Working Toward Academic Promotion
    Friday, March 11, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
    Via Microsoft Teams

    WIMS Lunch and Learn
    Establishing Personal and Professional Priorities
    Friday, October 21, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus, Conference Room 326

    WIMS Lunch and Learn
    Getting It All Done: How to Manage Projects, To-Do Lists, and Email 
    Friday, November 11, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. 
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus, Conference Room 326

    WIMS: A Day in the Life 
    Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
    W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus, TBL 1