IWICC was represented at the 20th Emirates Critical Care Conference in Dubai by several group members this May. 

Stay updated with our monthly newsletters that provide you with current updates, upcoming events, and networking prospects and showcase advancements in research, education, and clinical insights that distinguished women leaders in the field present.

Our goal is to unite to exchange knowledge,  extend mutual support, and promote advancements in the field of critical care.

We at IWICC aspire to bring together women intensivists and critical care physicians from around the globe on one platform and share our vision with the world.

- WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE A CAREER IN CRITICAL CARE?
After completing my residency in Internal Medicine, I initially worked in a primary care clinic in the public hospital system in Houston, Texas. I loved the patient interaction but learned that I needed more challenge in my professional life. I found that Critical Care offered opportunities to solve complex diagnostic problems and manage multiple serious conditions simultaneously. Yet Critical Care was still a specialty that provided the ability to connect with patients and families.

- WHICH CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE AS A WOMAN, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN CRITICAL CARE WAS A MALE-DOMINATE FIELD? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?
Some of the major challenges in Critical Care and probably any specialty at the time I started my career were recognition of your work and contributions and participation in opportunities to advance your career. Overcoming these challenges took time, persistence, and demonstrating excellence in everything you did whether it be patient care, teaching or research. As a woman, I had towork twice as hard and produce twice as much just to receive the same recognition as a man.  I was lucky to have the support of mentors who gave me the opportunities to prove my abilities.

- WHO WERE YOUR MENTORS AND HOW DID THEY HELP YOU SHAPE YOUR CAREER?
Rob Taylor and Phil Dillinger were mentors, promoters, and friends who encouraged me to enter a Critical Care fellowship and start my career in the county hospital system. They provided me with opportunities to teach, write, conduct research, and participate in SCCM projects. Their guidance and support were invaluable boosts to a fledgling career.


- WHAT'S THE BEST MEMORY YOU HAVE FROM YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY?
The best memory from my professional journey is not one memory but the collective memories of making friends in Critical Care around the world and sharing experiences with them.

- YOU'VE BEEN A LARGE ROLE MODEL TO WOMEN IN OUR FIELD. WHAT ARE 3 WORDS OF ADVICE TO FIND WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION?
My advice for work-life balance comes in hindsight and is fairly simple. Make time for your family, friends and yourself.

Make time for your family, friends and yourself.

- Janice Zimmerman