Women Docs

[Phoebe]

I am not really sure what my purpose is in posting right now. I am really interested in medical shows on TLC and the Health Channel. My husband was actually on an episode of Labor and Delivery they filmed in Cleveland last year. There is a new show on Lifetime called Women Docs. I can't remember if there were posts about it already or not. I just finished watching an episode tonight where they profiled three female surgeons. It struck me, but I guess didn't surprise me that the cardiothoracic surgeon was single and worked 7 days a week and lived out of her car (which was a porshe). The pedatric surgeon was married, but never had children (except two step kids) and this helped her career. The third female specialized in corneal transplants, was married with two children, but her husband stayed home with the kids.



These women had such demanding jobs with little time for anything else. All three of the women were the only females in their specialty which they said caused them to work extra hard to be successful. Maybe this is a question I already know the answer to... Does the medical field make it next to impossible for women to have a personal life and a successful career?



I know in my husband's fellowship, he is the only male this year. It is interesting how he is treated by them and the needs of the women when it comes to their families etc. He is not given the same courtesy. However, it is fun to listen to the stories he comes home with when they ask his advice about relationships etc.



I really don't have a point. I just found it interesting to see a physicians lifestyle from a female perspective. I like that show.



Jennifer

oooh - i didn't know about show! thanks, jenn! when does it come on? i would love to watch that!



i have the same thoughts re: women in medicine. i was actually thinking about the topic yesterday - regretfully, in a negative light! our neighbor is a nanny for a lot of physician families and she just started with a new family where both the husband and the wife are physicians. ok, she is NEVER home anymore. i looked out the window to see if her car was in the driveway and nope - she was still with the kids. my first thought was man, when do the parents ever see these kids?!



there are two women residents here doing general surgery. i've never asked them but i can imagine it is very, very hard for them. i'm sure they have to work to perfection to avoid the criticism that they don't cut it b/c of their gender. . .BUT on the flipside, i have recently thought that there is also a lot that they could get away with b/c you know that no one wants a sexual harassment suit on their plate!



TOUGH subject.

Jennifer,



It is so funny that you posted this, because I was going to post something about this as well!!! I just saw WomenDocs last night too and was struck by many of the same things...also, did you notice that the black physician mentioned how awful her residency had been because of her ethnicity and that she never would fit into the medical establishment despite her accomplishments? The one woman that had children had a stay-at-home dad....



I was really struck by this show.....I aspired at one time to have a career in medicine and have continued to revisit this decision from time to time. Now that Thomas is finished with training, I've found that I've been thinking about it more again...and to watch something like this reminds me of why I made the choices that I did several years ago....



There have been several articles published recently about resident working hours...and I hope that in the future that there will be a change...so many women go into medicine feeling that they will be able to handle the pressures of parenting and medicine...good grief...I can't even imagine how we'd be managing now if I were in a career that demanding right now...too bad we don't have any womendocs around to post and give us their perspective!!!



Kris




Time is a Dressmaker, Specializing in Alterations!

[DCJenn]

This got me to thinking about the women in Rick's program. It's about a 50-50 split between men and women. (his year anyway) Of the fourteen of us as single or family units:



3 Single females- no children



4 Married females- three of whom are married to fellow physicians



1 Single male- no children



6 Married males- none of whom are married to fellow physicians



Of the married couples, only one female is pregnant and she is married to a fellow resident.



Of the married males, two have children (one during internship year with another on the way) and one couple is pregnant.



I think everyone mostly waited until internship year was over. No one had kids during medical school or before. Of the female docs that we're friends with- none are in any way prepared to have a child, especially with their husbands still in residency as well. I think everyone will wait to finish their residencies and fellowships if possible, then while they are completing the payback time to the military, they'll probably have children.



I see most of the males having children before the end of residency because none of their spouse are in the medical field. Whether they choose to stay home or not is unfortunately not a choice for the female docs in residency.



More to think about-



Jenn

[Phoebe]

Claudia- Women Docs is on Lifetime at 11pm on Sundays.



There are several interesting ideas here. Kris- I did notice the one woman whose ethnicity and gender impacted her especially during residency. Her experiences have really shaped her attitude now that she is an attending. I can understand how it has toughened her up and makes her work harder. I am curious how others might see her as a teacher since she said she is very demanding. She works so many hours covering 6 hospitals and given her specialty, I wonder what her expectations are of residents and how that impacts patient care.



I think it must be difficult for a female to get through medical training. Something has to be sacrificed by the female, her family or her profession. Most of the females in medicine I know are either single or married to other physicians. The single ones don't have much time for relationships and focus mostly on their career. A couple women married to other physicians have either waited to complete their residency after their spouse so they can stay at home for the kids. Women having children during their residency in my husband's program have put lots of strain on the other residents because of their extended absence forcing others to cover their call schedules.



Women should be allowed to have children whenever they want in my opinion. There is added pressure it seems as a female physician because of the way the system works. A fellow in my husband's program was pregnant and took extra call during her pregnancy to make up for her leave. Those that don't may have to extend their residencies or make others work harder.



I feel lucky that I am able to spend time with my baby and not have the kind of job at this time that requires full-time child care. That is what is important to me at this time. Others have different opinions I am sure.



Jennifer