Physician Women's Conference
Physician Women's Conference
Unmasking: What Holds Us Back
Unmasking: What Holds Us Back is a thoughtfully curated conference centering the voices and experiences of women physicians. Together, we explore the societal expectations, institutional barriers, and inner voices that shape our professional and personal lives. This conference is both a reckoning and a celebration, honoring what we have endured while creating space for authenticity, connection, and forward movement.
Speakers
Melisa Boersma, MD
Radiation Oncology
Dr. Melisa Boersma is a physician, educator, and speaker whose career embodies excellence, resilience, and purpose. A former Division I athlete at Stanford University, she earned All-American honors in diving, led her team as co-captain, and competed at the national level. She holds a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford, an M.S. in Biochemistry, and an M.D., completing her radiation oncology residency in San Antonio. Board-certified in Radiation Oncology and Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Dr. Boersma serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Kansas Comprehensive Cancer Center and Clinical Director of Radiation Oncology at KUCC North. She is a national advocate, educator, and researcher, recognized for her contributions to community-based oncology and physician well-being. As a professional mindset coach, she inspires audiences to harness resilience, clarity, and aligned energy to move beyond overwhelm and create meaningful impact in medicine and life.
Ana Macdowell
Elizabeth Woods, MD
Dr. Elizabeth Woods is a pediatric physician, executive leader, and passionate advocate for trauma-informed care and physician wellness. She leads innovative behavioral health initiatives—from crisis stabilization to integrated outpatient services—designing care models that prioritize safety, connection, and family engagement. A former Army physician, hospital medical director, and academic educator, Dr. Woods has trained and mentored healthcare teams, launched high-impact programs, and built partnerships across communities, and health systems to expand access for vulnerable populations. Beyond her clinical and leadership roles, she empowers women physicians to lead with resilience, integrate well-being into demanding careers, and thrive while making a lasting impact, championing cultures where dignity, safety, and belonging are non-negotiable and enabling caregivers to flourish as they heal others. She is currently serving as Chief Medical Officer of a Certified Community Behavioral Health Program.
Pediatrics, Executive Medicine
Allergy, ImmunologyEleanor Parks
Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience.
Dr. Ana MacDowell is a certified life coach for women physicians and board-certified allergist. After years in clinical medicine, she recognized what so many mid-career physicians quietly experience: professional success on paper, paired with exhaustion, frustration, and a growing sense of misalignment. Through her coaching work and platform, The Resilient MD, Dr. MacDowell helps women physicians slow down, gain clarity, and reconnect with the version of themselves they’ve been too busy to hear. Her approach blends medical insight, mindset work, and practical strategy—without guilt, pressure, or hustle culture.
Known for her calm, grounded presence and thoughtful guidance, Dr. MacDowell creates space for honest reflection and meaningful change. She helps physicians recognize the thoughts driving burnout, redefine success on their own terms, and build lives that feel sustainable, aligned, and deeply fulfilling. Dr. MacDowell believes resilience isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about choosing differently. Her work empowers women physicians to reclaim their time, energy, and sense of self, one intentional decision at a time.
