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BCMS ALLIANCE

The Joys of Being a

Woman in Medicine

By Marcy Rosen, MD, FACOG

As I pondered this month’s theme, I asked myself: weekends and exploring their 20s, my medical
which aspect of “women in medicine” should I ex- friends and I were studying, taking high-stress tests,
plore? The possibilities are broad. Should I focus on working night shifts and looking forward to our
the challenges of work/life balance; pay disparities; “golden weekend” every month. There was no ex-
struggles with fertility and adequate planation needed for why I would have to miss an
maternity/pumping policies; leadership vacuums; important occasion, they understood. When you
or women missing out on career or academic ad- are all going through the same process together,
vancement during times of peak reproductive years? you “get it.” That empathy has continued into the
These issues are beginning to be explored in depth real world past residency, as we confront the
within the medical community. But there is another unique challenges medical careers bring to female
side of being a woman in medicine: a joyful side. I physicians in every aspect of our lives. These
wanted to take this time to reflect on some of the friends−now colleagues−offer unconditional sup-
joys being a female physician have brought me: port and understanding.

A sense of accomplishment A model for the future generation
Nineteen-year-old me had a dream: to become a I am blessed with two wonderful children. They
doctor. It wasn’t an easy road. There have been get to grow up seeing a mother who pursued and
twists and turns along the way. Nineteen-year-old achieved her career dreams. The other day, my three-
me had no idea about some of the roadblocks, set- year-old daughter and I ran into a patient of mine
backs or unrealistic expectations she would have to while we were out and about, and we saw the beau-
conquer along the way. But if I were to go back to tiful toddler I had delivered a few years ago. On our
that idealistic girl, I would tell her, “Keep going! way home, my daughter reflected, “you were that
You will get to be a doctor! That accomplishment baby’s doctor, but you are not my doctor. You are my
can never be diminished.” In previous generations, mommy.” Yes, I am both. She’s getting it. I know that
the path would have been so much harder. Maybe it is imperfect. I will miss moments in my family’s
it would have been impossible. Now, I have been lives that I will regret. They might resent parts of my
opened up to new challenges, new aspirations and career. But I will walk this balance beam as carefully
future accomplishments. Maybe I can create a path- as possible so that they know that being a doctor
way for someone behind me to achieve their goals. does not, in any way, diminish my role as their
mother. There is room in my heart, my brain and my
Camaraderie life for all of it. It truly is a joyful realization.
Some of my best female friendships came from
my time in medical school and beyond. As we were Marcy Rosen, MD, FACOG is an
starting our careers, we were less like colleagues and OB/GYN who lives with her husband,
more like soldiers in a war together. It was trial by kids and newly adopted cat in San Anto-
fire. At a time when many of my non-medical nio. Dr. Rosen is a member of the Bexar
friends were beginning their jobs, going out on County Medical Society Alliance.

10 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • November 2021