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WOMEN IN
MEDICINE
advice for women entering the medical field —
go for it!
A Q&A with Dr. Leah Jacobson,
president-elect of the Bexar County Medical Society
Q: why did you decided to go into medicine? believe that more women
A: I am a little odd. I have not only wanted to be a doctor since I are going into fields that
have predominantly be
was 8 years old, but I wanted to be a pediatrician. I have always en- male-dominated, such as
joyed math and science and absolutely love children. Some of the certain surgical and sub-
people that have influenced me are my father who is a large animal specialties. I also see more
veterinarian and my mother who was always volunteering. women in academic medi-
cine and military medicine
Q: what were the biggest challenges or obstacles leadership positions which
you had to overcome? is great.
A: I am very lucky to have the support of my family and my desire Medicine has definitely
to become a doctor. I think my biggest challenges towards complet- changed over the last 20
ing medical school and residency were centered around my son, An- years, some things for the better, some things for the worse. But it
drew. He was born during my fourth year of medical school with a is still a very noble profession which allows individuals (both men
condition called VATER’s Syndrome, a constellation of birth defects. and women) to help others and make a good living.
He was in the NICU for 102 days initially and then spent numerous
days-weeks in the hospital for surgeries and infections. It was diffi- Q: what advice would you give to women
cult to be a good mother and complete medical school and resi- considering going into medical practice today?
dency. I was very fortunate to have the support of family and the
UTHSCSA Department of Pediatrics residency program during this A: First, make sure you REALLY want to do this! The schooling
time. I completed a three-year residency program over the course of and training alone, along with the cost, can be daunting.
four years, taking three leaves of absences (two for Andrew’s issues
and care and one for the birth of my daughter). Second, do what you want! If you want to be a family practice
I have to say that with all of those challenges, I learned so much. doc — go for it! If you want to be a neurosurgeon — go for it! if
Andrew was even dubbed “my second residency.” you want to be a pathologist or radiologist — go for it!
Q: have things improved for women in medicine Third, do what you want, when you want, how you want! If you
today compared to when you started out? want to work full time, own your own practice, etc. — go for it! If
If so, how? you want to work part-time, for a group or a hospital — then go
for it! Medicine allows one the luxury of, to a certain degree, shap-
A: I think so. There are definitely more women attending medical ing their profession.
school over the last 20 years. I know the latest figures in some med-
ical schools, have women in the majority, which is awesome. I also Leah H. Jacobson, MD, FAAP is a board certified pediatrician and
a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
22 San Antonio Medicine • October 2016
