Group Spotlight: Women’s Council

Group Spotlight: Women's Council

For more than two decades, the ASRM Women's Council has created a space where women in reproductive medicine can connect, collaborate, and champion one another's success. What began as a small gathering, because there were far fewer women in the field, has grown into a vibrant, multigenerational community that continues to shape the future of reproductive healthcare.

Led by Chair Dr. Christina Boots, alongside Chair-Elect Dr. Sara Arian, Vice Chair Dr. Diana Chavkin, Immediate Past Chair Dr. Kay Waud, and Past Chair Dr. Victoria Snegovskikh, the Women's Council is dedicated to fostering leadership, mentorship, and meaningful professional relationships.

Each year at the ASRM Annual Scientific Meeting, the Women's Council hosts its signature breakfast, where members gather to honor the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. The event is both celebratory and reflective-bringing together trainees attending for the first time and retired leaders who helped pave the way.

"Hearing the veteran members describe early meetings where membership was small because there were so few women in the field fills me with immense gratitude for the early female trailblazers," Dr. Boots shared.

The Council's mission is rooted in creating opportunities for collaboration, leadership development, and mentorship across every stage of a woman's career. The group serves as a forum for networking and educational programming, while also creating space for candid conversations about career growth, challenges, and the realities of balancing professional and personal commitments.

For many members, the Women's Council has been transformative. Dr. Boots recalls being invited to her first meeting as an Ob/Gyn resident in 2010. Since then, she has found mentorship, collaboration, and inspiration within the group.

"The annual breakfast humbles me to see the accomplishments of my colleagues, but also inspires and empowers me to see women face adversity and balance careers, families and non-medical passions," she said. "I walk out with pep in my step and gratitude."

Her advice to those considering joining is simple. "Do it!" she says.

At its core, the ASRM Women's Council exists to connect women to one another; to celebrate achievements, validate challenges, and ensure the next generation of leaders rises even stronger than the last.

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