In anticipation of the upcoming March for Science, I wanted to touch upon a very exciting event that took place at work.
For International Women's Day, we organized a group photo of the amazing female doctors in our residency program. We turned it into a banner that now hangs in the hallway at our hospital. This photo represents us as clinicians from all over the world, fluent in several different languages, and united in our universal commitment to healthcare. We are practicing physicians, loving daughters, caring sisters, working mothers, devoted wives, and giving friends. We stand for the success and strength of generations of women who fought for our rights to equality, working alongside men, and rising above stereotypes.
This was the caption for the photo that received over 13,000 likes and over 200 comments on Pantsuit Nation, a closed group of 3 million+ members united in our belief for establishing Justice, insuring domestic Tranquility, providing for the common Defence, promoting the general Welfare, and securing the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity (credit goes to the forefathers of our nation).
As this photo was shared in a private group, I will not post the comments directly. Many of them reflect on the diversity of the photo; that the strength of seeing us women united in the healthcare field exemplified the steps we as a collective group have taken to break down barriers. The post made several contemplate what led to the success of their careers in science and inspired others to continue pursuing their dreams in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines.
A few even mentioned the recent JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) article: "Comparison of Hospital Mortality and Readmission Rates for Medicare Patients Treated by Male vs Female Physicians," which shows patients treated by female physicians have better outcomes than male physicians. While I know many well-trained, competent male physicians, it is a powerful article that affirms the need for women in medicine.
Thank you Pantsuit Nation for being a source of support and inspiration for all and allowing us to share our message. Everyone's comments have been so heartening and reassuring. The pride shared in our progress is humbling. We have been offered enough encouragement to last a lifetime.
And on April 22nd, I am rooting for the fellow men and women in science who are defending our right to learn, discover, and heal the lives of our patients and our planet. While I may not be able to march with you in person, I will be there on Capitol Hill in my heart and in my mind, complete with my very own specialized Pantsuit: Scrubs!
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