(March 9th 2022) International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and has occurred for well over a century with the first gathering held in 1911. This year’s theme centred on gender equality and a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination, where difference is valued and celebrated.
The first video from a member of staff at Tallaght University Hospital is with Amy Gillis, a Consultant General Surgeon who says “You become a surgeon because you like surgery, you love the academic aspect, the technical aspect. So as a surgeon it doesn’t matter if you’re female or male.”
Ms Gillis believes things are improving for female surgeons in terms of balancing work and home life. “I think a lot of women would shy away from surgery because of the difficulty with trying to have a home life in addition to a career. It is getting better. I am able to do it. The other women who are working in surgery in our department here, are able to do it.”
Amy Gillis believes that if a woman really wants a career in surgery she can make it work alongside family commitments. “Don’t ever let that turn you away from a job in surgery if it’s something that you really want.”
Watch Amy’s video:https://youtu.be/t1RUf63q_Sw
Sharon Larkin is the HR Director at Tallaght University Hospital. She says “Over the last couple of years in particular, looking at what we have gone through with Covid, the main focus needs to be on compassionate leadership, which is about attending to your staff, understanding your staff, empathising with them and helping them. And when I say helping them, it means actioning things that need to be done”.
Sharon believes being a compassionate leader is a strength and that leadership styles over the last thirty years have changed as more women have joined the workforce.
Watch Sharon’s video: https://youtu.be/51CeQDXL_r4
