Women in leadership roles in aesthetic medicine
Women are increasingly taking on leadership roles in aesthetic medicine, gaining representation in key professional associations. Despite historical gender disparities in healthcare leadership, female professionals are now at the forefront in aesthetics, driving innovation, advancing patient safety, and shaping the future of the sector.
Women make up a significant proportion of healthcare professionals worldwide, yet leadership roles remain disproportionately occupied by men.
According to a report on women in healthcare leadership and figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO), women comprise almost 70% of health and social care workers globally and nearly 90% of the nursing and midwifery workforce.
Despite the high percentage of women in the workforce, leadership roles are predominantly held by men. It is estimated that women hold only around 25% of leadership roles in health globally, with a 2022 report highlighting that over 70% of top-level executive roles in the European beauty industry were occupied by white, middle-aged men.
One area in which this disparity is also apparent is when it comes to the leadership of healthcare societies and professional organisations. A recent study showed that women constituted four per cent and 0% of medical professional society presidents from 1974 to 2023 in the United States and Europe, respectively (this increased to a respective 32% and 40% in the past decade). It concluded that while women remain underrepresented in medical professional society leadership – there is a trend toward more representation of women, which mirrors the growth in this realm among medical trainees.
Within aesthetics, we are witnessing a positive shift, with women leading several key associations, including the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM), the British Association of Medical Aesthetic Nurses (BAMAN), and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). These organisations are essential in shaping the sector, advocating for patient safety, setting professional standards, and promoting advancements in aesthetic medicine.
The British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) has had multiple female presidents in its 20-year history, including Dr Samantha Gamell, Dr Uliana Gout and the current president, Dr Catherine Fairris, who was elected in 2022.
Dr Fairris said: “Aesthetic medicine, as with many medical specialities, has historically been very male-dominated.
There is, however, a strong need for female leaders in this space, especially when you consider that the majority of patients and service users are female.
Women can bring a perspective and reference point that is closely aligned with our patients’ experience.
I am so thrilled to see the growing numbers of successful female leaders within aesthetics, and I am excited for the future.”
In 2024, BCAM announced Dr Sophie Shotter as its president-elect, marking another milestone for female leadership within the association.
Speaking about her appointment, Dr Shotter said, “I'm delighted to be elected as president-elect of BCAM and to work alongside another strong and inspirational woman in Catherine. Our board of trustees is made up of a really diverse group of men and women, and we all work inspiring each other with total equality. That, for me, is really what International Women's Day should be about. Yes, it’s about celebrating womanhood, but it's also not about denigrating men. It's about acknowledging the fact we all have things to bring to the table and striving for equality.”
According to current statistics, approximately 89% of registered nurses in the UK identify as female, meaning that the vast majority of nurses in the UK are women. It may be no surprise then that the UK’s leading association for medical aesthetic nurses – the British Association of Medical Aesthetic Nurses (BAMAN) – has long been led by women, with Sharon Bennett serving as a pioneering chair for 11 years.
Recently, the association appointed a new female board, including Brenda McKibbin, Anna Baker and Constance Campion-Awwad, along with Amy Bird as its new chair and Alexandra Mills as vice-chair. This represents a continued commitment to empowering female leaders within aesthetic nursing.
Mills commented: “I’m thrilled to be part of the female-led board of directors at BAMAN, where I am privileged to work alongside strong, inspiring women leaders. Balancing a career in aesthetics with the demands of home and family is undeniably challenging.
Despite the struggles, the rewards are immense. I am deeply committed to advancing equality for women in the medical aesthetics field, ensuring our voices are heard and represented.”
BAMAN, previously BACN, was set up by inspiring, determined women, and it has been an honour to be entrusted to be its custodian to safeguard and grow the association. As a leader, it is essential to recognise one's need for a close team within and strong relationships outside, and I have had support and guidance from both sides. We cannot succeed alone. There have been challenges. It is hard for women to combine a senior leadership position in aesthetics whilst maintaining a balanced family life and growing their own practice and interests, but the rewards are plenty. I feel privileged to have been given the opportunities I have had to develop personally. I am reassured that the association will continue to be led by dynamic nurses who will maintain the spirit and ethos in which it started.
Constance Campion-Awwad has had a 25-year-long career in aesthetic medicine and was one of the first nurses to pioneer the specialism at the Royal College of Nursing in 2000. Eight grandchildren later, she attests to the fact that being a working woman has never been better. “I constantly find myself amazed at how women juggle so much in the modern era,” she says.
“Women today have a choice, and for those who choose to or who have to stay at home, there’s nothing to beat being a homemaker and being on the spot to make sure the children and grandchildren are lifted and landed.
But, for those who have a career, there’s a tremendous need to support them and recognise their magnanimous decision. Their contribution to society must shape politics and make everywhere more inclusive for women!”
In 2020, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) appointed its first-ever female president, Miss Mary O’Brien, after 41 years of male leadership.
Given that 90-92% of cosmetic surgery patients over the past 15 years have been women, her appointment was a significant step toward gender representation in leadership.
At the time, O’Brien stated: "It’s a positive step to have a professional female perspective to contribute to the leadership of an organisation that traditionally has been male-dominated.”
The current BAAPS president, who was appointed in October 2024, is Ms Nora Nugent, a highly accredited plastic surgeon who is also President of the European Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and European Association of Societies of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Her leadership continues to shape the association’s mission to promote excellence, innovation, and patient safety in cosmetic surgery.
On being appointed, she said: “It is a pleasure and an honour to take over the presidency of BAAPS.
As well as continuing our work on patient safety, I will also be focusing on the health benefits of aesthetics, BAAPS support development and continuing our international collaborations.”
The increasing presence of women in leadership roles within aesthetic medicine is crucial for several reasons:
Representation matters: Given that the majority of aesthetic medicine patients are women, having female leaders provides a more balanced perspective and patient-centred approach.
Encouraging diversity: Gender diversity in leadership promotes a variety of perspectives, leading to more inclusive policies and decision-making.
Inspiring the next generation: The visibility of female leaders inspires younger women in the industry to pursue leadership roles and break barriers in a historically male-dominated field.
Women are increasingly shaping the future of aesthetic medicine leadership, bringing diverse perspectives and driving the field forward. With continued support, advocacy, and recognition, female professionals will play an even greater role in influencing policies, improving patient care, and setting new standards in aesthetic medicine.
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