Diversity champion wins AMA Women’s Health Award

Dr Ashna Basu received the award from outgoing AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid, for her passion and dedication to gender equity, mental health, and the social determinants of health.

“Dr Basu is a champion for diversity of representation in all forms and has been a reliable leader in bringing a new generation of doctors to understand and value the important role of women in medicine,” Dr Khorshid said.

“She joined the AMA as a student and has been an active figure in medico-politics for many years.”

Dr Basu completed her internship and residency at Prince of Wales Hospital, where she was President of the Resident Medical Officers’ Association. There, she led a team of dedicated committee members during the pandemic and represented and advocated for doctors-in-training at Prince of Wales. She also organised the first hospital-wide fundraising effort, raising $8,298 for Killara Women’s Refuge.

As current President of the Medical Women’s Society of NSW, Dr Basu is dedicated to ensuring women in medicine have a community that supports doctors with common issues, such as maternity leave and job-sharing and provides opportunities for women to upskill and gain new experiences. 

Dr Basu is also a Conjoint Associate Lecturer at the University of New South Wales and Co-founder and Director of PinkSparrow Ltd that helps not-for-profit organisations and charities with corporate governance.

She is also author of The COVID Digest, a daily newsletter delivered via Whatsapp, with more than 1700 followers.

Dr Khorshid said Dr Basu works from an understanding that health crises can make people feel frightened and vulnerable and in her own words, tries to make people ‘feel more like themselves, during what can seem like an impersonal and confronting experience’.

“She is an inspirational advocate for women in medicine and a trusted representative for all doctors-in-training. Congratulations, Dr Basu.”