Travel Scholars - Women in Vision conference 2024

VRF awarded Travel Scholarships to 18 young medical and optometry students, who joined Prof. Helen Danesh-Meyer at the 2024 Women in Vision Aotearoa conference in Queenstown. The conference’s theme was ‘Visionary Women: Navigation Mastery’, covering many topics including:

  • Optimising Care Through Networking: The Role of making connections with each other in successful patient care

  • Gender Equity at a Crossroads: Navigating with Vision

  • Financial Wellness in clinical practice

  • Indigenous Māori Health

  • Anterior Segment Session: cataract and refractive cases

  • Oculoplastics: Key pearls for diagnosis and treatment options

  • Retina: Case presentations and diagnostic pearls with OCT and FFA

  • Negotiation in Life and Work: Tips for Success  

  • Optimising the Patient Journey, Barriers Between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists

We received the following feedback from some of our scholars:

“The Women in Vision Conference provided a unique and empowering platform that engaged women at every stage of their careers, from students and trainees to senior clinicians. This inclusivity was instrumental in breaking down traditional hierarchies, fostering a sense of equality and mutual respect among attendees. The atmosphere encouraged open and honest discussions about the challenges and opportunities faced by women in healthcare, creating a safe space to address issues that resonate with us all—such as work-life balance, gender bias and barriers, and mentorship. By uniting women across different levels of experience, the conference cultivated a sense of solidarity and provided invaluable insights and inspiration for navigating and thriving within the field of Vision. Ngā mihi nui”  Chloe Ramsamy

“Words which jump to my mind when reflecting on the Women in Vision conference are inspiring, empowered, connected, supported, and invigorated. As a Māori whahine, I have never felt more safe and welcomed in a conference. This was not only conveyed in the interpersonal interactions I experienced during the conference, but also the topics and presenters who were selected.  A highlight was the scholarship recipient dinner which was full of current and future mana whāhine! All sessions were relevant to me as a pre-vocational registrar. I especially enjoyed the financial planning and negotiation talk.

To know that I have so many wonderful whāhine supporting me in my journey has empowered me. I draw strength from this, knowing I have allies throughout Aotearoa.”  Helen Kearns

“Ko Lily tōku ingoa. I am a house officer currently working in Waitematā and I had the great fortune of receiving a scholarship to attend the Women in Vision conference in Tāhuna.

As a relatively “undifferentiated” junior doctor (aka still trying to find exactly where I fit into the world of medicine!) I was nervous I might not fit in among the ophthalmologists and optometrists in attendance. How wrong was I! From the moment we arrived I felt welcomed and I left feeling connected, inspired and in awe. Not only did I gain some awesome insight into the vision-related fields but I left having learnt about a range of topics including kaupapa Māori, financial health and the experiences of women in the workforce. The breadth and depth of discussions meant that there was always something in each kōrero that I could relate to and learn from. 

I feel so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time among amazing wāhine and particularly to have learned from many wāhine Māori. I cannot go any further without giving a huge mihi to Dr Emma Wehipeihana who not only was the reason I was able to attend but is also an incredible doctor and human being! I was also extremely impacted by the kōrero from Renata Howe as well as Prof Danesh-Meyer and Dr Liz Insull (to name a few!). 

The conference had a supportive and vulnerable environment where one could both feel at ease but also push themselves to expand and grow. Though there was a significant focus around kaupapa relating to eye health, the conference transcended a singular speciality and spoke more broadly of shared experiences in healthcare. Finally I feel incredibly humbled and fortunate to have been in the presence of many formidable wāhine Māori who’s kōrero and shared kaupapa are shaping the healthcare providers of today and tomorrow. 

The New Zealand Women in Vision conference surpassed all of my expectations and has offered me connections and learnings that I will take with me throughout my career. 

Ngā mihi and thank you for this opportunity.”  Lily MacDonald Murello

“I was incredibly privileged to be one of the indigenous medical students sponsored by Vision Research Foundation to attend the Women in Vision 2024 conference in Queenstown.
My favourite part of the conference was having the opportunity to connect with inspiring wāhine in the ophthalmology field. As a final year medical student/soon-to-be PGY1 interested in ophthalmology, it was such a privilege to be able to meet with ophthalmology consultants and registrars, as well as doctors preparing to apply for the training programme. These discussions gave me a genuine and unfiltered view of the application process, and the career itself, and this was immensely valuable and appreciated.

They say you should never meet your heroes, but meeting Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer, I can say that you should definitely meet your heroes - if you get the chance! A real highlight was a panel discussion led by Professor Danesh-Meyer, where the panel acted out real scenarios of gender discrimination in their careers as healthcare professionals. The wider group at the conference then had a kōrero brainstorming the best ways to respond. Breaking down these discriminatory comments in an interactive, safe, and honest way, with passionately compassionate wāhine, was both eye-opening and influential.

A further highlight of the conference was hearing Professor Erin Shriver speak about intimate partner violence - with respect to both her role in this space as an ophthalmologist who manages ocular trauma, and also to the role that all practising medical professionals and optometrists can have. As a soon-to-be first year house officer, this talk was very relevant and was highly impactful.

I feel very lucky to have enjoyed this incredible experience - and I think it would be amazing to see other indigenous medical and optometry students supported to attend the Women in Vision conference in future years! Thank you so much."  Rachel Baker

“The conference was an incredibly empowering experience, and I feel privileged to have been a part of it. Renata Watene's words, “Vision for Māori is broader than the Western sense” resonated deeply with me. This perspective highlighted the importance of taking a holistic approach—looking at a person as a whole, including their whānau and community, rather than focusing solely on their eyes. This understanding carries immense value and is a guiding principle I will incorporate into my current and future practice. Connecting with inspiring wahine toa, particularly mothers, within the field of vision care, was especially impactful. As a second-year medical student, it showed me that pursuing a successful career while being a mother is not only possible but achievable.

I am deeply grateful to Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer and Vision Research Foundation for funding this incredible opportunity. This experience has solidified my belief that I can make a meaningful difference for our people in the world of vision.”  Paige Richter

“It was an absolute honour to have been offered a scholarship from Vision Research Foundation to attend the Women in Vision conference in Queenstown, Aotearoa. From the moment I arrived at the venue and met Helen, who gave me the most heartfelt and warm welcome, I felt that this was going to be a special experience. As an Aboriginal Australian woman it is not often that I find myself walking into a room and feeling a sense of connection and belonging, the importance of which cannot be understated when it comes to wanting to share space, stories, and knowledge with those around me.

When that first panel began and there was a spot for a guest panel member to be called up, I never imagined I would hear my own name announced by Helen. After that initial confusion that my ears weren’t working, and the terror that comes with not knowing what I was saying yes to, I had no hesitation in accepting the invitation solely due to the atmosphere and energy present and the safe space created by my initial interactions with Renata, Helen and Pragy. The fact that this theme of creating space and time for everyone in the room, whether they were students, doctors, optometrists, or professional women from all walks of life with wisdom to share, continued from this very first panel to the last presentation is a testament to the amazing vision and values that the Women in Vision conference seeks to promote.

Wellbeing in the comradery and support we offered each other freely and willingly throughout the conference, with amazing presentations and advice from women like Brooke Roberts, who has inspired me to care a little more about my financial position.

Leadership from strong, accomplished, powerful women like Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer and Professor Erin Shriver, both of whom displayed such confidence in their own abilities and passion for the work they do that I could not help but be inspired to “take the opportunities you are offered, run with them, you never know where they might lead” Thanks Erin!

Mentoring on display as the qualified and accomplished women in the room formed connections with the students present, offering both advice and opportunities into the future to help guide and empower them. As one of my most important mentors it was amazing to be able to connect with Renata in person, not something we get to do often. Her influence has had such a profound impact on me in my own journey.

Empowerment as evidenced by how many women felt confident and happy to stand up in that room and present their stories and knowledge freely, without fear of being judged or criticised. The abundance of positive feedback to everyone who presented was so heartwarming to hear and feel.

Diversity. This is perhaps the most important value for me and one that was truly honoured at the Women in Vision conference this year. The most powerful panels and presentations were delivered by some amazing and strong Māori women. Renata Watene’s keynote address was candid and moving, and the work she is doing with her PhD encompasses everything I strongly believe in. Dr Emma Wehipeihana, with whom I related so strongly as our stories have so many similar elements. Emma has managed to articulate her experience so much better than I could ever hope to though, I cannot wait to read her book that you were kind enough to award me! And, of course, Tania Te Whenua. I do not know where to start with what Tania was able to deliver in that room, it was so powerful and moving beyond words. It was also a stark reminder of just how similar the stories of the Māori and Aboriginal peoples are and how much both of our cultures have had to endure. Lived experience is the most powerful tool at the disposal of our Indigenous brothers and sisters and I am so happy this is finally being recognised in official circles as a valid qualification to speak and deliver wisdom to those around us willing to listen.

I hope I am fortunate enough to one day attend the Women in Vision conference again and reconnect with all of the amazing women I met and yarned with in Queenstown. Thank you Vision Research Foundation and the amazing organisers of the Women in Vision conference.” Katrina Cox