[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 173 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL WOMEN'S 
                              ASSOCIATION

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the 100th anniversary of the American Medical Women's 
Association, AMWA, the first national organization of women physicians.
  One hundred years ago, less than 6 percent of all physicians in the 
United States were women. Recognizing a crucial need to provide support 
for these pioneering women and to bring diversity to the medical field, 
Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen founded the AMWA on November 18, 1915, in 
Chicago.
  The AMWA quickly established a network and support system for women 
in the medical profession and documented their lack of opportunities in 
postgraduate training, internships, and academic appointments.
  Over the years, the AMWA successfully advocated to increase 
leadership roles for women doctors, sponsored research and panel 
discussions on medical women in the workforce, and established 
scholarship and mentorship programs to encourage the next generation of 
women leaders. The AMWA has also worked to improve women's health by 
addressing issues from human trafficking and affordable contraceptive 
care, to childhood obesity and osteoporosis risk across the globe.
  For the past century, the American Medical Women's Association has 
served as the vision and voice of women in medicine. As we celebrate 
their extraordinary milestone, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating the AMWA for their tireless efforts to open the door for 
generations of women physicians. Because of their work, countless men, 
women, and children have benefited from the dedicated service of AMWA 
members, and for that we are all grateful.

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