Today, March 8th, 2024 is International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is #inspireinclusion. The campaign says “When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.”
To celebrate, we are highlighting some of the businesswomen in our practice. We asked the ladies a series of questions and have their responses documented below. We share these stories and experiences with the hopes to inspire inclusion in the realm of health and wellness care.
DR. CHERYL VAN DER MARK, CEO/FAMILY CHIROPRACTOR
1. What are some of the barriers you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how did you overcome them?
“Gender based discrimination is unfortunately still a factor in the business realm. People usually assume a man runs my business at first. It is still more rare for a woman in my discipline to run a bigger clinic like mine. Even when dealing with banking advisors it is assumed my business is smaller than they anticipate until they look at my books. The look of surprise is telltale of the discrimination that still exists. I often hear, congratulations on your practice, that is pretty amazing for a woman! Ugh. I have always pushed through any barriers thrown at me. I have always believed that a woman can be a mom AND run a successful business. I have called out the discrimination when needed and ignored and pushed forward with my goals when appropriate.”
2. What message do you think is important for young women thinking about a career in health and wellness care?
“You can do anything you set your mind to! Women deserve business success at the same level as our male counterparts. Don’t hold back due to expectations other people put on you. Push forward with your goals and be proud of who you are and what you can accomplish.”
3. What are your hopes for the future of gender equality in the workplace and in your practice/healthcare?
“I look forward to the day when women’s bodies are as well researched as that of man. There is still such a huge discrepancy in the research and attention to women’s health as there is on men’s. I also look forward to a day when it is normalized and even as expected for a woman to be a CEO of a business as it is a man.”
DR. CARLY WENDLER, NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR
1. What are some of the barriers you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how did you overcome them?
“The challenges for me have always been balancing motherhood, being self employed AND starting and nurturing and thriving business in private health care, all in the same lifetime. I have a very strong solid support network in my husband, friends, and colleagues. My village have always supported the passion I have for being both an invested, present and loving Mother and the desire to do great things as a Naturopathic Doctor.”
2. What message do you think is important for young women thinking about a career in health and wellness care?
“Take care of your physical, mental, & emotional needs before others. You will do your greatest work with and for others when you yourself feel vital, energetic and motivated.”
3. What are your hopes for the future of gender equality in the workplace and in your practice/healthcare?
“Currently, as with many health and wellness professions, Naturopathic Medicine has a much higher proportion of females than males. My hope is that anyone who feels called to practice and share Naturopathic Medicine, has that opportunity.”
LAYLA BEHAEEN, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
1. What are some of the barriers you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how did you overcome them?
“While progress has been made, there are still instances where women may face unequal opportunities for advancement or recognition compared to their male counterparts. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance has been another hurdle. The expectations placed on women to excel both professionally and in their caregiving roles can be demanding and at times overwhelming. Finding ways to prioritize self-care and set boundaries has been essential in managing these priorities. Throughout my career, I’ve encountered moments where I’ve needed to make my voice heard in male-dominated spaces and by acknowledging my confidence and my worth, I’ve been able to break through these barriers. However, it’s important to note that while these challenges exist, they do not define my journey entirely.”
2. What message do you think is important for young women thinking about a career in health and wellness care?
“To all the young women considering a career in health and wellness care, I want to share a message close to my heart: come into this field with confidence, passion, and strength. Your voice matters. Your perspective is invaluable. As you embrace on this journey, remember to assert yourself, speak up, and advocate for what you believe in. Whether you’re at the bedside, in the lab, or leading a team, never underestimate the power of your voice to drive positive change. Set boundaries. In a demanding field like health and wellness care, it’s crucial to prioritize self-care and establish boundaries that protect your well-being. Know when to say no, when to ask for help. Together, we can create a future where women in health and wellness care thrive, empowered by their confidence, passion, strength, and powerful voices.”
3. What are your hopes for the future of gender equality in the workplace and in your practice/healthcare?
“My hopes for the future of gender equality in the workplace and in healthcare are rooted in the values of fairness, empowerment, and respect. I want a future where gender equality is not just a goal but a lived reality, where every individual, regardless of gender, has equal opportunities to thrive and succeed. I hope for a future where equal pay is the norm, where individuals are compensated based on their skills, experience, and contributions. Support for work-life balance is another key aspect of my hopes for the future. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to balance their professional and personal responsibilities without sacrificing their well-being. Flexible work arrangements, family-friendly policies, and supportive workplace cultures can contribute to a more balanced and fulfilling life for all. I hope to see continued advancements in women’s health within Waterdown Village Chiropractic & Wellness Group. By prioritizing women’s health, we can ensure that all individuals receive equitable and comprehensive care. All in all, my hopes for the future of gender equality is equal pay, empowerment, respect, advancements in women’s health, support for work-life balance, and more awareness. I am committed to working towards these goals within my workplace and continue advocating for positive change.”
DR. JUDY ANCHETA GOGUEN, NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR
1. What are some of the barriers you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how did you overcome them?
“As a second generation Canadian-Filipino minority woman in my career, opportunities for Naturopathic Doctors working collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams to come up with innovative and evidenced-based treatments is not the “norm”. In my practice, I treat people with complex health care concerns who are trying to survive and thrive with finite energy, time and resources. I genuinely feel the best patient outcomes are achieved from the collective genius of interdisciplinary teams working together. I overcome these barriers by learning from a variety of clinicians whose focus includes women’s health, pediatrics, family medicine, subfertility and infertility, early infant death and recurrent pregnancy loss, postpartum care, interventional pain medicine and internal medicine. I view my profession as being a vocation, and an authentic way of life for me. I am fulfilled helping persons with complex health concerns, spanning all generations from preconception to end-of-life. I want to understand what people need to live a quality life feeling well, whole and fulfilled. This can sometimes mean I am tasked with needing to understand people’s concerns before they realize and can articulate what they need for whole person care. I also prioritize lived experiences and hands-on volunteer work in various areas of the community the last 26 years (and counting!) These experiences provide me with perspectives that enrich my understanding of the persons I see, so I can better understand the impact health has on their life, the lives of their family members and surrounding community.”
2. What message do you think is important for young women thinking about a career in health and wellness care?
“An important message for young women and all young persons seeking out a career in healthcare (even those young at heart, because it is never too late to pursue your dreams) – try to find personal, professional, local and international experiences that invigorate and excite you. Surround yourself with driven and compassionate like-minded persons who encourage you to be the best version of yourself. Where you can, try to incorporate light-hearted humour and laughter, as this journey can be tumultuous and full of the unexpected. A variety of life experiences can help you refine your style of care, help you adapt more easily, and support your evolution as a person pursuing your passions and goals.”
3. What are your hopes for the future of gender equality in the workplace and in your practice/healthcare?
“My hopes for the future are for more professional development opportunities for women in naturopathic medicine leadership, particularly as it pertains to interdisciplinary, complex whole person care for the modern patient. I hope Canadian healthcare policy continues to reduce financial barriers prohibiting access to naturopathic medical care for all persons. Every person should be entitled to the full range of quality healthcare services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. I hope to see this happen in my lifetime!”
