Medical School Clinical Lecturer included in the BMA's list of Women's Role Models in Academic Medicine

Jess Morgan, Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Oncology at Hull York Medical School and based at the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination in York, is part of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) recently published list celebrating women in medicine.

Designed to help provide female role models for both current and aspiring medical professionals, the publication highlights women from a diverse range of backgrounds and clinical expertise.

Helen McKeown, chair of the BMA representative body writes:

‘’It offers readers an insight into the diverse and exciting world of medical academia and aims to encourage women in medicine to consider academia in their career plans and asks you to challenge your own preconceptions of who an academic is.’’ 

Jess is delighted to have been recognised as a role model for women in academic medicine. She says:  

“I was humbled to be nominated to be part of this book, and to feature alongside so many inspirational women. I’m so thankful for the many incredible team members I’ve been able to work with, including some amazing mentors and role models. Being a clinical academic is a real privilege - it’s such an interesting, empowering, and rewarding career.” 
 
The impressive list of fifteen professionals in total was produced by the Women in Academic Medicine group (WAM), co-chaired by Dr Marcia Schofield and Dr Sarah Allsop at the BMA, after the attendees of the 2018 WAM conference and other events were invited to nominate the academic women who inspired them. Interviews and exchanges with the nominees have helped form the content of an official publication which outlines the experiences of each of the celebrants, from their own inspirations and challenges, to what it is like for them being a woman in medicine.  
 
Jess is involved in vital research into the supportive care of children and young people with cancer, including studies of antibiotics for children with leukaemia and research into decision making for families of children with rhabdomyosarcoma.  She is also working on a project exploring gender inequalities in clinical academia. Jess delivers lectures to undergraduate medical students at HYMS, supervises postgraduate students, and delivers research training to paediatric trainees across Yorkshire. 
 
Jess was chair of the Young Investigator (YI) network of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP)  from 2017-2019, representing SIOP members under the age of 40 in helping to plan and deliver educational sessions, mentorship, and social media activities.  
 
In the publication Jess is recognised by her peers as ‘always encouraging and enthusiastic but honest. She works incredibly hard both locally and internationally. She maintains a sense of humour despite a heavy workload, and always makes time for others.’ 

Professor Una Macleod, Dean of Hull York Medical School says: ‘In order to inspire the next generation of clinical academics it is important that they have role models who have been on similar journeys to themselves - who they can learn from and who will inspire them. I would like to congratulate Jess on behalf of the School’. 
 
More information about the story and the Women in Academic Medicine group can be found here