Women remain underrepresented in academic and healthcare settings. To address this gap, culture change — particularly through the actions of allies, sponsors, and mentors — is necessary.

The 2025 Faculty of Health Sciences Women’s Symposium and May Cohen Lecture will bring together all individuals (women, non-binary people, and allies) to explore how we might close the persistent gender gap in our workplaces. This is our fourth annual event, following a successful launch in 2021.

This year, our keynote speaker will be Dr. Shannon Bates, a professor in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, and the Eli Lilly Canada/May Cohen Chair in Women’s Health. Dr. Bates will address structural sexism and its impact on research, clinical care, and forming effective partnerships with clients and communities.

Target Audience
Individuals interested in advancing women within academia and healthcare.

Learning Objectives
By attending this activity, participants will be able to:

• Articulate key issues facing women in transitioning through academia, leadership, healthcare, and society.
• Learn new skills for approaching key barriers that women face in academia, leadership, healthcare, and society when they transition between roles or phases of their lives.
• Empower allies across McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences and in surrounding healthcare communities to take action to advance women’s leadership, joy and well-being in health and healthcare.

Registration Fees
Early Bird on or before February 17, 2025

• Participant: $100.00 +HST
• Trainee/Student: $40.00 +HST

After February 17, 2025

• Participant: $125.00 +HST
• Trainee/Student: $50.00 +HST

Website, agenda, and registration: https://cpd.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/programs/womens-symposium-25/