In 2016, the late Valerie Guild—founder and then-president of AIM at Melanoma—attended a melanoma conference and noticed something striking: While women were entering oncology at nearly the same rate as men, the room was filled with male oncologists, many of whom held positions of leadership at their varying institutions. This disparity, especially within such a critical field of medicine, prompted Val to take action. 

Recognizing the need for women-focused professional development, Val launched the Women in Melanoma (WIM) Initiative. The aim? To support and amplify the careers of junior to mid-career women oncologists and researchers focused on melanoma, ultimately improving patient outcomes by promoting a more inclusive and representative medical community. 

The first WIM meeting took place in August 2017 in Leesburg, Virginia, and the meeting has since become an annual gathering of approximately 30 women from across the melanoma field—including medical and surgical oncologists, dermatologists, basic scientists, and industry leaders. 

Over the past eight years, these meetings have tackled a range of evolving topics, shaped by advances in the scientific and therapeutic landscape. For example: 

• In 2017, as immunotherapy was showing widespread efficacy in metastatic disease, the group addressed survivorship planning and fertility. 

• In 2018, discussions turned to managing immunotherapy side effects and patient triage. 

Each year, the WIM gathering offers invaluable opportunities for collaboration, mentoring, and professional development. Equally important, it creates an opportunity where the physician–patient relationship can be examined and strengthened—helping to ensure that the melanoma care experience evolves alongside the science. 

Goals of the WIM Initiative: 

• Support the academic careers of women in melanoma research. 

• Foster mentoring and collaboration among women physicians and scientists. 

• Improve melanoma patient outcomes by focusing on physician–patient communication. 

• Share best practices in patient engagement and care. 

As this initiative continues to grow, it reflects the vision and legacy of Valerie Guild—a tireless advocate for both melanoma patients and the women who dedicate their careers to fighting the disease. 

📄 Read the detailed summary of the seventh Annual WIM Meeting and its key discussions: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17588359251342039 

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Reference: Najjar YG, Orloff M, Mitchell TC, et al. Proceedings of the seventh annual Women in Melanoma Conference. Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology. 2025;17. doi:10.1177/17588359251342039