International Women’s Day (IWD) has a rich history spanning over a century, yet many challenges to women’s progress remain. Since its inception in 1911, IWD has been a day for everyone who champions women’s equality. It’s a time to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and take action to achieve gender parity.
Marked by millions of people on March 8, IWD celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.
According to the World Economic Forum, it will take until 2158 to achieve full gender parity at the current rate of progress. To accelerate action, swift and decisive steps must be taken in order to address systemic barriers and biases that women face in both personal and professional spheres. Working together, it is possible to speed up the rate of progress worldwide.”
In recognition of IWD, University of Oxford Professor of Psychiatry Rachel Upthegrove MBE, MBBS, FRCPsych, PhD, Director of the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (OH BRC), talks to us about her distinguished career in psychiatry, what motivates her and what advice she has for women who want to progress in Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers.
Can you summarise your career in mental health?
I qualified in medicine in London at the Royal Free School of Medicine. I had general medical jobs first in cardiology and A&E. I was keen to get a good grounding in medicine before going into psychiatry.
I wouldn’t call my academic career traditionally linear. In 2011 I finished my PhD which I studied part time whilst having 3 children and significant career breaks.
I was always really driven to make sure my research was grounded in clinical impact, looking to improve treatments to people with early psychosis and schizophrenia.
I’ve gained experience working with young people when first presenting with psychosis, at an important stage in their lives where they are figuring out who they are and how to live independently. I’m really interested in developing new treatments for this very early stage of psychosis, including medicine and non- pharmacological interventions.
Recently my research has focused on trials looking into the development of new medicines that have fewer side effects, and repurposed medicines.
What inspired you to focus your career in this field?
My father was a psychiatrist who died when I was very young, so I always had a sense of wanting to carry on his work. Luckily, I found psychiatry inspiring, and it felt like a natural home for me.
What motivates you professionally?
Once I started working with people with psychosis, I understood the desperate need there is for new treatments.
I’m motivated by the sheer number of different ways we can investigate and develop new treatments. The breath of what you can get involved in is really remarkable this is where mental health research is really unique.
What advice would you give to women who aspire to work in STEM?
Definitely do it! There aren’t enough of us working in STEM – although the number is increasing. My best piece of advice would be not to worry too much about the timetable of it all. Life isn’t a race, and you don’t have to achieve everything by a certain age.
What advice would you give to women who want to become leaders in STEM?
We need a collaborative approach to leadership in clinical research. The problems we have in health research currently are deep and they won’t be fixed by one person on their own. If you can lead groups of people in such a way that you can get the best out of them, then you can create real success.
A leadership role was never something I ever set out to do, but I would advise other women not to shy away from these types of roles when the chance comes, because we need a balance with women in equal positions of influence.
If you were not in your current profession, what would you like to be doing?
I remember at school thinking to myself: “Do I want to study English or Medicine?” I really enjoyed writing, which helps when it comes to writing grant applications! If I hadn’t gone into medicine, I would like to think I would have had a career in literature.
For further information please email OH BRC: ohbrcenquiries@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
