On March 11, physicians across the country mark Canadian Women Physicians Day, a time to recognize the leadership, impact, and achievements of women in medicine. 

In Manitoba, women represent a growing share of the physician workforce, contributing across clinical care, teaching, research, advocacy, and community leadership. 

How to take part: There are several ways to celebrate and show your support ahead. 

• Celebrate excellence: Four outstanding physicians are among the 2026 Doctors Manitoba Award recipients. Dr. Holly Hamilton, Dr. Mandy Buss, Dr. Natalie Casaclang, and Dr. Tegan Turner are recognized for their excellence, leadership, and service to patients and communities. 

• Send a note of kindness: Share encouragement by sending an anonymous e‑postcard to a random woman physician in Canada through Canadian Women in Medicine (CWIM). 

• Join the fun: CWIM is hosting virtual events, including a scavenger hunt, an escape room, and From Trainee to Trailblazer: The Journey of Women Physicians in Leadership on March 11. 

• Save the date: Winnipeg will host the CWIM Conference from June 11 to 13, bringing physicians from across Canada together to learn, reflect, and build community. 

Gaps in medicine: While women make up an increasing proportion of the profession, gaps and inequities remain. 

• Research across many jurisdictions shows a gender pay gap in medicine, ranging from 10 to 34%, often linked to systemic, structural, and practice pattern factors. 

• Our preliminary analysis in Manitoba suggests a 22 to 29 percent pay gap, even after accounting for factors such as years in practice and hours worked. 

• Other studies, such as this recent one in Ontario, have found women physicians often spend more time with each patient, and more time on documentation, reflecting a difference in practice that traditional remuneration models don’t fully acknowledge. 

What’s changing? Doctors Manitoba continues to support women in medicine with a focus on your economic, physical, mental, and professional well-being: 

• Innovative compensation models or adjustments in areas of medicine with higher proportions of women physicians to address systemic inequities 

• Family Medicine Plus, recognizing patient complexity and time spent on indirect care 

• Continued focus on addressing inequities as preparations begin for the next PSA negotiations in 2027 

Join a Roundtable: Burnout continues to affect women physicians at higher rates. 

• An upcoming Physician Health and Wellness Roundtable for women physicians on April 13 will provide space to share experiences, identify needs, and help shape future wellness programming 

• Click here to learn more and register to take part