Blizard professor appointed as Vice-President of Medical Women's Federation

4 June 2019

The Medical Women's Federation (MWF) was founded in 1917 and is the largest and most influential body of women doctors in the UK. The organisation aims to advance the personal and professional development of women in medicine, to change discriminatory attitudes and practices, and to work on behalf of women patients and their families.

Following her appointment at the MWF’s Annual General Meeting, Professor Orkin said: "I’m honoured to take up the position of Vice-President of the Medical Women's Federation. It will give me the opportunity to work on behalf of women from across the UK, at all stages of their careers and to champion women in Medicine and in Science."

Chloe Orkin is Professor of HIV Medicine at the Blizard Institute and has been a consultant at Barts Health NHS Trust for the past 16 years, while leading a clinical trials unit for HIV research.

Her specialist interests are anti-retroviral therapy and blood-borne virus testing, and she is the current Chair of the British HIV Association.

In March, Professor Orkin presented results from a clinical trial which tested the first ever injectable HIV drug. The trial’s positive results mean that HIV patients may no longer have to medicate themselves on a daily basis, which was described as a 'paradigm-shift' for patients.

As Vice-President of the MWF, she will be helping the Foundation encourage organisations to make fundamental changes to the way in which they train and employ staff in order to make the most of what the diverse workforce has to offer throughout their working lives.

The MWF also plays a key role in supporting women patients, and campaigns at a national and international level on issues affecting women.

 

More information

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Joel Winston
Public Relations Manager
Queen Mary University of London
email: j.winston@qmul.ac.uk