Breaking Barriers: Women in Cardiac Surgery

This is a special edition blog post presented in partnership with the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

By Dr. Hina Inam

“Women cannot be cardiac surgeons. We have bets on when you will leave.”

These were the words of an attending, said just a few days after I joined the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency. I was stepping into a field where women were a rare sight, and the expectation was clear—I would not last. But I was determined to prove them wrong.

I worked hard, showed what I was made of, and ultimately became the first female cardiac surgeon to graduate from my institute. It wasn’t just about proving myself; it was about paving the way for those who would follow.

Since then, the landscape has started to shift. Dr. Sara Iqbal became the second female cardiac surgeon to graduate from our program. Today, we have two aspiring female CT surgery residents in their first and second years, breaking through the same barriers. My interns—Drs. Aiman, Huma, and Sara Hussain—have now graduated as female cardiac surgeons, and the next in line, Drs. Fakiha, Rida, Soha, and Aruba are on their way.

I come from a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) where female cardiac surgeons are not just rare—they are almost unheard of. The first step was graduating but the bigger challenge was inspiring and mentoring young women who dared to dream of a career in cardiac surgery.

Yet, the battle is not over. In my part of the world, people are used to seeing older men as cardiac surgeons. When I step into an operating room, I am often mistaken for being too young to be the surgeon in charge. Changing this perception is the next step.

This is not just about me—it is about transforming the future of cardiac surgery. It is about normalizing the presence of women in this field and ensuring that young female surgeons do not have to fight the same battles alone.

To every woman who has been told she does not belong in surgery, let this be a reminder: You do. And we are here to stay.

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