After being asked to advise a pre-med student on what a career in medicine looks like, Julia Reilly, MD, a third-year resident in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Boston-based Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, realized she wished she had been more adequately prepared for what a medical career would look like for a woman.
Dr. Reilly wrote in an op-ed for STAT she often feels like an imposter due to the unconscious biases of her colleagues and patients. Simple comments inquiring about her knowledge and capabilities as a physician, Dr. Reilly says, have left her feeling dejected and questioning her expertise. As a mentor, she says she aims to help other female and male physicians speak up about gender disparity in the workplace and advocates for female physicians, specifically, to openly discuss the challenges they've encountered to help younger generations of future physicians understand what the medical field is truly like.
"I had been taking care of a pleasant elderly gentleman who was in the hospital after a leg amputation. It's not uncommon for patients to meet several physicians during a hospital stay, so I reintroduced myself the second day I saw him. 'Hello. I'm Dr. Julia Reilly.' I didn't expect his response: 'Oh. I've been picturing Dr. Reilly as a strong, male doctor.' ... Such interactions aren't rare. … Each time I'm not recognized as a doctor, or a patient dismisses my advice in favor of a male physician's, I question myself. … I believe that mentors should initiate honest discussions with their female trainees about the unconscious biases and workforce disparities they may face. That way, trainees can feel primed for the challenges and supported in knowing they are not alone. I encourage female physicians to speak more candidly about their experiences in medicine — good and bad — and to share them with their colleagues through various mediums."
To read Dr. Reilly's op-ed, click here.
If you would like to contribute a quote for this series, please email Alyssa Rege at arege@beckershealthcare.com to be featured in "Quotes from the Front Line," a series which highlights the joys and frustrations medical personnel face while on the job.