DearPat
Dear Pat Responds to “In Need of Feedback”
Dear Pat, I was scrubbed in a case in the OR last week and my attending seemed to be very upset with me. Nothing in particular had happened, and I couldn't identify what the problem was. She and I have worked together several times before and have always had a good working relationship. Now several days have passed, and the situation hasn't improved. How can I figure out where I went wrong so that I can improve our relationship and not make the same mistake again? Sincerely, In Need of Feedback Dear “In Need of Feedback” You did not indicate your year of training or the seniority of the attending however, I will assume that you are in the early years of training. My recommendation would be to ask the attending if you could make an appointment to review your performance. I would then ask her to identify your strengths...
#DearPat turns one: a look at the past year
It’s Dear Pat’s anniversary! This month marks the one-year anniversary of the #DearPat column, which was created in 2018 as a collaborative effort between the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) Resident and Fellow Committee and the #AWSBlog committee. This column was designed as a forum for residents and fellows to share their experience as trainees, ask for advice from AWS leadership, and spark a conversation on the matters facing surgical trainees today. #DearPat, is named after Dr. Patricia “Pat” Numann who founded the AWS in 1981 when she invited all the women surgeons she could find to breakfast at the October meeting of the American College of Surgeons (Read more about AWS history here). From its inception AWS served as a place for women surgeons to share common experiences, interests and express their concerns. Over the years Dr. Numann has continued to provide advice and she continues to inspire our...
Dear Pat responds to Not Over It Yet
Dear Pat, A patient that I had been following for several weeks died a few days ago, and I can't seem to stop feeling upset about it. I talked about it with my colleague and he told me to "get over it", and that "patients die, you'd better get used to it if you want to stay in this field." Part of me thinks he's right, but I am still struggling to get over this loss. Now I'm worried that if mention it to anyone else, I'll be labeled as "weak" or "too sensitive". How can I deal with these feelings without affecting the way people perceive me? Sincerely, Not Over It Yet Dear “Not Over it Yet,” I am so sorry about the death of your patient. A piece of advice I was given early in my career is that if it ever becomes easy to lose a patient,...
Dear Pat responds to Offended and Humiliated
Dear Pat, I went to see a consult the other day in the ED, and the patient kindly informed me that he wanted a different doctor because he felt that "women can't be real doctors." I was so mortified that I couldn't think of anything to say in response, so I walked away and sent my intern to see the patient instead. I work in a department with plenty of female faculty in a relatively liberal city, so his response totally took me by surprise. Should I unfortunately find myself in a similar situation in the future, what can I possibly say in response to a comment like this? Sincerely, Offended and Humiliated Dear “Offended and Humiliated," First, that’s exasperating, and I think you handled the situation perfectly well. Patient was seen, no one shouted, no one lost face. Happily, I think this will happen less and less as the...
Dear Pat responds to Missing Mentors
Dear Pat, Many of my male faculty have suggested that I find a female mentor to help me with career development. However, we have a handful of female faculty at my program, and I do not have a close working relationship with them. How do you go about identifying female mentors who are in the field and job type you're interested in if your own program doesn't have any? Also, do I need to have a female mentor as a woman? Sincerely, Missing Mentors Dear “Missing Mentors,” Mentors come in all shapes and sizes and genders. Rarely will you find a single mentor that can truly help you with all aspects of your life and career. In fact, I would highly recommend that you seek out and develop multiple mentoring relationships – more folks who you can bounce ideas off, get perspective from, and help you grow. Certainly, men can...
Dear Pat responds to Surgical Oncology Hopeful
Dear Pat, I am a second-year general surgery resident interested in a surgical oncology fellowship. I come from a community general surgery program without the opportunity for basic science research or research years. What can I do to make myself a competitive candidate for surgical oncology fellowship interviews? Sincerely, Surgical Oncology Hopeful Dear “Surgical Oncology Hopeful”, Surgical training programs are highly variable in terms of requirements and/or availability of research opportunities (basic, translational, and clinical). Those differences are taken into account when reviewing an applicant for a fellowship position. For example, expectations of accomplishments for someone at a training program with 2-year research programs built-in will be very different than for someone coming from a community program. Having said that, what sets you apart from other applicants is what you have achieved. Retrospective charts reviews can be conducted without dedicated research years. They should be completed, presented at national meetings...
Dear Pat responds to “Please Call Me Doctor”
Dear Pat, I am a junior general surgery resident rotating at a new hospital. No matter if I’m wearing my badge which says MD in large letters or my white coat which also says MD on it, patients and staff continue to call me by my first name. I didn’t mind at first, but then I overheard the staff tell the patient that I would be coming in to evaluate them and referenced me by my first name to the patient. I understand I am a resident, but the male residents seem to be called doctor more often. I’m not sure how to politely address this issue. Don’t I deserve to be called doctor too? Sincerely, Please Call Me Doctor For this month’s #DearPat, AWS Council Member Dr. Marie Crandall shares her strategies in response to “Please Call Me Doctor.” Dear Please Call Me Doctor, This can be a really...
Dear Pat Responds to Surgeon-Mother-to-Be
Dear Pat, I’m a second-year surgery resident and somewhat older than my co-residents. I am considering getting pregnant during residency, but I am unsure if my co-residents will be supportive. I don’t want them to be mad at me. What should I do? Sincerely, Surgeon-Mother-to-Be For this month’s “Dear Pat”, AWS Council Member Dr. Simone Betchen shares her strategies in response to “Surgeon-Mother-to-Be”. Dear Surgeon-Mother-to-Be, How exciting! No one can tell you when is the best time to start a family, but since you asked, here’s what I think. The best time to start a family is when the timing is right for YOU and your family. While it is kind of you to think of your co-residents, your co-residents will step up and survive without you during maternity leave because no one is indispensable. And it goes both ways, If any one of them had an issue in future,...
Dear Pat responds to “I’m the Boss”
Dear Pat, My intern is a tall, white male. Every morning on rounds I introduce myself as the Chief Resident and state the roles of everyone on the team. However, patients continue to direct their questions and concerns to him and look to him for the plan. My intern is uncomfortable with this, and appropriately redirects the patients to me. How do I better establish that I am the Chief Resident? I know this is something that I may face for the rest of my career, how do I stand up for myself without letting this drive me crazy? Sincerely, I'm the Boss For this month’s “Dear Pat”, we have two AWS council members - Drs. Amalia Cochran and Marie Crandall - share their strategies in response to “I’m the Boss”. Dear “I’m the Boss”, These situations can be challenging. Some cultures or age groups struggle with identifying women as...