Thoughts From a Woman in Medicine
On International Women’s Day I found myself thinking of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell who became the first woman to earn her medical degree. Many years later, I think she would agree that we still have a long way to go.
For the first time, women slightly outnumber men in medicine, but there is still an uneven playing field when it comes to hiring women and men for the same position.
When I worked as a medical scribe before starting medical school, I remember overhearing a conversation that made me feel worried for my future as a woman in medicine. The hospital I worked at had several female doctors going on maternity leave. The doctors working that night were discussing hiring a new doctor or two. One of the male doctors said, “we better hire a man, so he doesn’t go on maternity leave too.”
I was shocked that he would make such a statement so openly. Even more shocking was that nobody in the room challenged him. Were they afraid to, or did they just feel as if it would make no difference? Or did they agree with him?
It was disheartening to realize that this may be my future if I decide to have children. Whether or not a hospital or company would admittedly agree with this bias, most people unconsciously share this same thought process: if you are a woman, there is a chance you will have children and, therefore, a chance you will not be able to work for a period of time on maternity leave.
At PNWU, I am part of the Women in Medicine club, which attempts to raise awareness about some of the issues involving Women in Medicine, such as the biases that I witnessed first-hand working as a scribe. At one of the club’s first events last year there was a panel that discussed harassment of women. Some of the topics highlighted the types of gestures that can make women and men uncomfortable, whether they are intentional or not.
As Osteopaths, I think it is something that we need to be aware of because we often use our hands to treat people. I am someone who prefers not to be touched, so I am extra careful about asking permission when treating with osteopathic manipulative treatment. In general, Osteopathic physicians are more comfortable with physical touch than the average person, so being extra careful to not cross any boundaries is important.
Whether it is respecting personal space or making sure there is an equal playing field for women in medicine, we still have a long way to go but I believe PNWU is paving the pathway in a positive way.
Kathleen Lucier
Osteopathic Medical Student - 2nd Year (OMS II)
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Secretary, Emergency Medicine Club, ACOEP-PNWU Chapter, 2019-2020