VNVA Nieuwsbrief juni 2026

Een bijzondere VNVA Nieuwsbrief met volop ruimte voor het recent gehouden VNVA-MWIA congres en Els Borst Oeuvreprijs symposium. De Nieuwsbrief start met de opening van het VNVA-MWIA congres door VNVA-voorzitter Geneviève Koolhaas.

Opening speech

Today I have the honor of welcoming you as Chair of the Dutch Association of Women Doctors here in the Netherlands, at the 2 day conference for the Medical Womens International Association in the theme of ‘Transgenerational Resilience’.

I stand before you as a human being with Dutch and Surinamese ancestors. The oldest granddaughter of people who where among the first to immigrate from Suriname to find a better education and a thereby a better future. A non – white - non - heterosexual woman with ambitions to make healthcare an inclusive ecosystem in which we all can trust that we will receive the best standard of care. Where we are safe, our talents are recognized and we have a sense of belonging. In these troubling times of discrimination and exclusions of minorities, spread by both social media and some politicians, we as women doctors and Allys (we are not forgetting you brave men 😉 amongst us)….

We should take a prominent stand in defending humans rights, womens rights, and advocate for equal chances, equal access and equal treatment in the healthcare system. This is a matter that asks for an international and interdisciplinary approach the upcoming decades. Not only for our patients but also for our talented and ambitious colleagues who persevere despite barriers of inequality and keep making progress as they break through the glass ceiling!

With our program of diverse speakers and even additional mini symposium which celebrates and awards dr honoris causa Wanda de Kanter with the Els Borst Lifetime Achievement award, ‘transgenerational resilience’ will be investigated in all her appearances and interventions for both the individuals and for the broken system that needs to be fixed. We sincerely hope you’ll leave the conference with some inspiration and feeling of support to aim for the best you can. Both in your capacity as a human being and as a healthcare professional with a great set of human skills Artificial Intelligence has not to offer!

I’ve just recently learned from Elif Shafak, British- Turkish novelist and feminist born in France and auteur of bestselling book ‘There are rivers in the sky’ about water- families. They say about families that blood is thicker than water and family offers the best form of safety, undeniable backup/love and support. But for all those not that fortunate of having this family or just with a grand heart friendships form their water families.I hope this network of VNVA en MWIA and your own colleagues can transform into a culture of water families.

People with different backgrounds and personalities but at the and of the day will have your back, will offer support and inspire you to be the best version of you and make the medical world a better place!