Having a career in a field that’s been traditionally dominated by men can be tough for women in medicine. Every day brings its unique set of ups and downs, just a few of which are captured in these tweets.
- Dealing with being called by the wrong title:
Things my patients have called me today: honey, sweetheart, nurse. Things my patients have not called me today: doctor #girlmedtwitter _____
— Leah Croll, M.D. (@DrLeahCroll) January 18, 2018
2. Fighting the imposter syndrome through medical school, residency, and fellowships:
I'll be so glad when exams are over just to shift that permanent self-doubt hanging around.
— Lucy (@LucyCKinch) January 17, 2018
Nail an OSCE practice? Ace 20 questions? Still not enough.
Slip up a bit on a station? Get a couple of questions wrong? I'M GOING TO FAIL EVERYTHING EVER#medschool #girlmedtwitter pic.twitter.com/V30Rw3U8hw
3. Thinking about how many clothes you could have purchased with what you spent applying for school:
Everybody should be talking about how expensive it is to apply to professional school. I definitely spent ($3500 to be exact) the price of a #Gucci bag and then some applying to pharmacy school. #RoadToPharmD #BlackDoctorsMatter #BlackGirlWhiteCoat https://t.co/ZVGAZ7V1q5
— Morg. __ (@Morgan_Good) January 11, 2018
4. Having brains and beauty because they are not mutually exclusive:
"You're too pretty/young to deal with such horrible things" - I'd say pretty never got ANY job done and patients (especially mine) really couldn't care less #pathology #WomenInMedicine #whatdoestooprettymean #seriously pic.twitter.com/YDU5QDBO25
— Lisa Mersson (@path_and_bones) January 17, 2018
5. Telling people again that yes, you are indeed the doctor in the house:
Yes, I am a female. Yes, I am young. No, I am not a nurse. I am a physician. I am a surgeon. #womeninmedicine #stopthestereotype
— Cammy Matters (@camatters11) January 13, 2018
6. Reminding yourself that women have long been in medicine:
Women in combat areas. Women were ‘camp followers’ from early times, tending the wounded. Good to see it’s recorded here. #WomenInMedicine https://t.co/bec7hPoLTS
— Connie Nolan (@cccubusiness) January 15, 2018
7. Putting together a great team where you all think alike:
I come down to the ER one day, and it’s a female resident, a young female attg, and me. We completed each other’s sentences. So on the same page. It’s wonderful. #womeninmedicine
— Sasha R (@SashaSaidWhyNot) January 15, 2018
8. Knowing that other women in medicine have your back:
Thanks girl. I had a rough week at work and this didn’t help at all. It’s nice knowing #medtwitter and #girlmedtwitter always have my back
— Snarky In Scrubs, RN ______ (@snarkyscrubs) January 21, 2018
9. Getting recognized for all the grueling work and hours you’ve put in to earn the title you have:
Finished aged care facility visit-man tapped on my car window to ask after his relative. “I thought you looked like the doctor” I’ve been a doctor for 14 years and no one has ever said that to me before! #WomenInMedicine
— Liz Sturgiss (@LizSturgiss) January 14, 2018
10. Lifting other women in medicine because success is a group effort:
A1. #Sheforshe is a conscious effort to mentor/promote/support other women physicians & medical providers. Rising tide lifts all boats. #WomenInMedicine
— Julie Williamson (@JWill_PediACCM) January 15, 2018
