February 3 has been declared as National Women Physicians Day in honor of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive an M.D. from an American medical school in 1849.
I am thankful for all the amazing female physicians that have been my biggest supporters and mentors over the years. I would like to specifically thank my medical school classmates, co-residents, preceptors, and other female physicians that I have crossed paths with over the years. It ain’t easy to be a female physician, the struggle is real.
- Having a son sick at home while on call in the ICU
- 36 weeks pregnant and on call for 28 hours with three kids at home.
- Coming back to work as a resident with a 6 week old baby at home
- Pumping in the call room or clinic so you can make sure your son or daughter receives only breast milk.
- Repeatedly being asked your role by the same family and insisting to call you nurse, since they do not want to recognize that you are the doctor in charge since you are a female.
- Caring for your patient in clinic that needs to be admitted due to a severe asthma exacerbation and then realizing your daughter’s day care closes in ten minutes.
- Struggling to find coverage so you do not miss your daughter’s performance at school.
- Unable to find a guy who will accept and appreciate you, since guys are intimidated by girls who are physicians – how could they balance being a wife and mother along with a demanding career as a physician. (Giving up on getting married)
- Coming back to work as a resident with a 6 week old baby at home
- Pumping in the call room or clinic so you can make sure your son or daughter receives only breast milk.
- Repeatedly being asked your role by the same family and insisting to call you nurse, since they do not want to recognize that you are the doctor in charge since you are a female.
- Caring for your patient in clinic that needs to be admitted due to a severe asthma exacerbation and then realizing your daughter’s day care closes in ten minutes.
- Struggling to find coverage so you do not miss your daughter’s performance at school.
- Unable to find a guy who will accept and appreciate you, since guys are intimidated by girls who are physicians – how could they balance being a wife and mother along with a demanding career as a physician. (Giving up on getting married)
- Finally meeting the guy of your dreams and getting married but then you have to travel every month till you graduate from residency, long distance relationship while working 80 hours a week.
- Knowing that even with all the hard work you will put in to succeed, JAMA concludes "sex differences in academic faculty rank, with women substantially less likely than men to be full professors, after accounting for age, experience, specialty, and measures of research productivity."
These are only a few encounters that I have witnessed. I admire all these individuals for their sacrifices and dedication to their patients and families. You all remind me every day why I chose to become a physician.
Thank you!
#iamblackwell #nwpd
- Knowing that even with all the hard work you will put in to succeed, JAMA concludes "sex differences in academic faculty rank, with women substantially less likely than men to be full professors, after accounting for age, experience, specialty, and measures of research productivity."
These are only a few encounters that I have witnessed. I admire all these individuals for their sacrifices and dedication to their patients and families. You all remind me every day why I chose to become a physician.
Thank you!
#iamblackwell #nwpd
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