Month: March 2016
The Other Nine Percent
By Miriam D. Weisberg The United States Preventative Services Task Force and American Cancer Society advocate the importance of Papanicolaou tests (Pap test) as effective screening for cervical cancer prevention. Since the introduction of Pap tests, there has been a decline in cervical cancer deaths by 50%. These statistics are a proud reflection of the impact early detection has had over the past 30 years. USPTF guideline revisions now recommend Pap tests once every 3 years for women over 21, and only once every 5 years after the age of 30. Despite the success of early detection, the new guidelines are decreasing the frequency of examination. Is the leniency of these guidelines a risk factor for the next generation of young women? The guideline revisions are based on the correlation between HPV and development of cervical cancer, which accounts for 91% of cervical cancers every year.. Unlike self-breast exams for...
Greening the OR
By Abigail Forbes As a medical student I have learned to seek out opportunities that will foster my journey through medical school and facilitate my goal of becoming a surgeon. The Go Green Contest is one of those many opportunities I came across through AWS. I gained an invaluable mentor and was able to promote a great cause: benefitting our environment. Students and residents should take advantage of this opportunity! When I was formulating a ‘green solution’ to submit, I benefitted from my surgeon mentor’s knowledge. Additionally, I was able to communicate my commitment and wide interests in the medical field. I found this unique interaction with faculty that allowed me to stand out as a medical student and to explore the possibilities and process of improving healthcare in my community. Together, we were able to outline an educational plan to train medical students about operating room procedures by saving...
On being a mom, surgeon, and wife – or surgeon, mom, and wife – or…
By Chris Hardesty The worst moment in 2015 was the morning my 2 year old started crying when he realized I was leaving for work. I’d heard this would happen and expected it, but the pit in my stomach was worse than I anticipated, the temptation to stay home tugged like a wave pulling me under the water, and I matched his tears when I got into my Jeep. It sucked. I rationalized I was going to an important job helping other kids, that Jack would be over it quickly, and that millions of other moms/kids had been through this. But it still sucked. “Work-life balance” is that overly used term for the elusive perfect schedule. It has been touted as something we should all work for, but I have yet to meet anyone – male or female – who has achieved it. My first goal in writing this is...
Beautiful Girl, You Can Do Hard Things
By Brittany Bankhead-Kendall I saw that quote on my favorite Facebook group recently, called "Physician Moms Group" (or "PMG"). This is a group of women who, like all of us, are just trying to "do" life every day. Because of our integrity and intellect, we are trying to do it better than anyone else. I think that’s from a “Type A” personality, combined with leadership & wanting to be perfect at absolutely everything. Make sure the kids are happy, our finances are in order, our trip to Disney World is fun, the house is clean, the co-workers aren't mad we’re on maternity leave, ensure we are the go-to specialist, the spouse feels loved, and the list goes on. But don't let any one of these Jenga pieces fall! As women in medicine, and especially as women in surgery, our formidable years in training teach us how to be strong and...
The Impact of Shared Experience
Reflections from the Panamerican Trauma Society/Association of Women Surgeons’ Women in Surgery Panel at the 28th Panamerican Trauma Congress in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia By Marissa Boeck In a giant convention hall, blindingly bright lights shine down on a long table in the middle of a makeshift stage. A moderate-sized crowd filters in. While the majority are women, there is a mix of genders that spans generations, all coming to hear a handful of female surgeons speak. Included is a mother from the local community who brings her adolescent daughter, in the hopes of reinforcing that despite local or cultural female stereotypes, her daughter can achieve whatever she sets her mind to. The panelists come from different training and geographic backgrounds, from medical school graduates to senior attendings, general surgeons to those specializing in trauma, bariatrics, or gynecology, hailing from Bolivia to Panama to Canada. The venue is...
When Breath Becomes Air: Lessons Learned
By Jane Zhao Join us for a tweetchat tonight, Sunday evening, March 13, at 8 PM Eastern Time and follow @WomenSurgeons, @jzhao3, @ShreeAgrawal21, @minervies and the #AWSFood4Thought! It is only when confronted with our own mortality that some start to embrace life. In part two of his memoir, Dr. Paul Kalanithi takes us on a journey from the time of his diagnosis of terminal lung cancer to his last few days and shows us just how alive he is throughout the time he is actively dying. Rather than summing up his narrative, I have highlighted certain passages from Part Two in chronological order to give an accurate depiction of his transformation from doctor to patient back to doctor, all the while juggling various roles as husband, son, and finally as a new father. Warning: There are spoilers ahead! ~~~Excerpts from “Part Two: Cease Not till Death”~~~ “’I’m never coming back...
Colorectal Cancer Awareness
By Linda Farkas October is the “pink” month. Pink is everywhere for breast cancer. Major cities light up pink fountains, pink skyscrapers, and even “real men” (football players) wear pink for breast cancer (BC). Kudos to breast cancer awareness for hitting a home run through their campaigns, which can be measured in action. This success can be seen with increased mammography screening up to 70.2%, depending on a woman’s insurance. (ACS, Surveillance Research 2016). Other than the “Get your Butt in Gear”, or the Traveling Colossal Colon, colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness is silent. Why? Is it sexier to talk about breasts, than colons, rectums, colostomies and stool? CRC screening compliance does not fare as well. By any modality- guaiac cards, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and barium enemas it still hovers around 50%. (2009 NCQA data-reflecting 2003-2008 data) So every March (let’s face it –every day) I use CRC Awareness to my advantage...
Walk in his Shoes: When Breath Becomes Air
This month, we are reading Dr. Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air. Join us for a tweetchat Sunday, March 13th at 8pm EST by following @WomenSurgeons and the #AWSFood4Thought. I honestly did not know what to expect from the book. When I told friends about my pre-order, they wondered whether they too could read the book as it sounded "terribly sad." As I picked it up one evening - a break from studying general surgery - I found myself bracing for an emotional challenge. I was genuinely surprised that I could not put the book down. Being in my Chief Resident year, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Paul from English major to medical student to neurosurgery resident. I had the acute feeling that I was walking in his shoes. I appreciated the patient anecdotes, reminding me of my own patients who raised similar questions in my training. His eloquent...
Polka-Dots, Checks, and Stripes: Does Gender Expression Matter?
By Gabrielle Rieth I am soft-spoken and often characterized as “nice,” “sweet,” or “adorable.” I express my gender identity in a way that is traditionally ascribed to females. This combination of characteristics has allowed me to be perceived as non-threatening, accessible, and approachable - all of which have benefitted me when working with new colleagues and when interacting with patients. However I also recognize that these traits may cause those same colleagues to overlook or underestimate my work ethic. Knowing this, I still do not bother to invest additional energy to correct their behaviors or assumptions about my capabilities. Why? While my peers are busy assessing my competence from the way I speak or portray my gender, I am focusing on getting ahead in my career. This was my default internal monologue. I drew inspiration from the #ILookLikeASurgeon campaign and believed my gender has made progress, as it is 2016...