First celebrated in 1911, it is an opportunity to celebrate women who’ve made history and continue to champion change and encourage future generations. Here we find out more about one of the UK’s leading Hand and Wrist Surgeons, OrthTeam’s Miss Ladan Hajipour:

What inspired you to become a surgeon?

I was five when I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I used to pretend I was ill so that my parents would take me to my paediatrician, Dr Kavoosi. I wanted to see how he worked so I could copy him when I played with my friends. I decided to choose orthopaedics when I was in year 3 at Dundee Medical School. The mechanical concept of orthopaedics was what attracted me into the specialty.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Being able to put the wrist back to some normality, and seeing my patients’ satisfaction, is the best part of my role. 

Why did you want to join the OrthTeam?

OrthTeam is a group of like-minded and dedicated orthopaedic/MSK consultants with a high standard of care that is patient centred. It has been a great experience being part of the team and having fantastic colleagues, who I am able to communicate with regularly and discuss complex patient cases as part of multidisciplinary team for safer practice.

Which women have inspired you? 

As a junior doctor I carried out research in the Neurosurgical Unit in Newcastle with Miss Helen Fernandes. She was the first Hunterian Professor in neurosurgery, an amazing surgeon and a very supportive mentor. One day as we were finalising our research data in her house, while her three small children’s were running around happily, I knew it was possible to have everything you want in life. You can have family, career and still be good at both as she was the perfect example.

Is there any advice that would you give to a female (or anyone) wanting to become an orthopaedic surgeon?

Being an orthopaedic surgeon is an amazing opportunity. Like everything in life this is achievable only with hard work, determination and perseverance regardless of being a woman. Every other obstacle will eventually move out of the way if you really want to become a surgeon.

What do you like to do in your downtime?

When I am not working, I keep fit by going to the gym, taking my dog for therapeutic walks and make ceramic pottery in my garage.