|
|
Celebrating Latina Women in Medicine
AMWA & MomMD - Announce Online Partnership The Death of Dr. CEO - Challenges of Physician Entrepreneurship Disruptive Innovation - Create Wealth in Medicine Fall Job Board Sale - Job Listings Starting at $20 From Med School to SAHM, MD - Read Her Blog Like this Site? - Share it or Save it! MomMD Gear - Visit Our Online Store MomMD Residents & Medical Student News - from Mediwire Physician Jobs! Physician Jobs! Physician Jobs! - Start Your Search Here! FlexDox - Flexible and Part-time Physician Jobs
MomMD Online Store - T-Shirts, Mugs, Cards!
AMWA
OldPremeds.org
Student Doctor Network
UK Medical School Guide
Hippocritis.com
Doctors' Gadgets.com
The traditionally male face of medicine is changing. More women than ever are choosing to become doctors. Women physicians are influencing and enhancing the world of medicine, bringing a different perspective and cultural awareness to the practice of medicine. Minority physicians are more likely to practice in underserved areas and conduct research to reduce disparities in health care. In a multi-cultural society, having a diverse physician workforce is vitally important for the health of the nation. For many women, becoming a doctor seems an impossible dream. These strong Hispanic women show how it can be done. Aim High – Turn Your Back on Discouragement It is 1.30pm and Sandy Tsao, M.D. is finishing up with the last of her morning patients. Dr. Tsao’s contractions began that morning and she’s eagerly awaiting the arrival of her second child, any minute! Growing up in a small Colorado town of just 10,000, she aimed high and attended Harvard Medical School. Part Navajo Indian, Hispanic and Basque, Dr. Tsao lacked Hispanic physician role models as a child. Majoring in Liberal Arts, she sought out and attended a minority summer medical program at Harvard. Inspired, she knew she wanted a career in medicine. As a dermatologist she now works at Massachusetts General Hospital and is Director of Procedural Dermatology at Harvard Medical School. “Sometimes people insinuated I was only there because I was filling a quota”, she says. With a high-profile career and book coming out later this year, it’s obvious that Dr. Tsao is much more than that. Dr. Tsao will take a two-month maternity leave to spend time with her family, scheduling one morning per week to see patients. “Family is significant to me, it is a glory and honor to have children. I’m learning the importance of life balance every day”, says Dr. Tsao. She has no regrets and hopes to inspire other Latinas to choose a medical career. With several Hispanic medical organizations around, there are many opportunities to seek mentors, support and information. “Never let anything be a limitation, not gender, race or personal handicaps. Overcome roadblocks, don’t let financial barricades limit you. Always take the best opportunity available to you, even if others tell you not to.” Taking the Long and Winding Path - Learning About Yourself and Others Along the Way Originating from Cuba, Perla del Pino-White, 28, was the first one of her family born in the United States. As a fourth-year medical student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, she has already experienced a full life tinged with tragedy and triumph. With the death of her father at aged 14, Perla has spent much of her life exposed to illness. In Junior High she was her grandparents caretaker, she made them food, took them to doctors and helped with their medications. She became a nurse’s assistant during High School and saw how much she enjoyed taking care of others. She knew she wanted to be a physician. With the support and encouragement of her family, she did not let anything stand in her way. Winning a scholarship she attended the University of Miami. During those years she met many Hispanic physicians and got involved with minority pre-health organizations. Then her Mom became sick with cancer. Taking care of her, Perla studied when she could while working two jobs to help out financially. It took five years for her to finish school but Perla was still accepted to her first choice medical school. While at medical school she discovered that many students did not speak Spanish and were not aware of Hispanic medical issues. She saw people not getting the medical service they needed because of language and cultural barriers. She founded the school’s National Boricula Latino Health Organization and taught Spanish classes to students for free. “I’m just one small person in a big pond. But I’ll do whatever I can do to help”, says Perla.  Moving away from her family for the first time made her appreciate the importance of family. Successful at balancing her personal life with classes, Perla married in her second year. Planning a baby during medical school, Perla become pregnant in her fourth year. At five months pregnant she was told her baby would not make it and she took a break from school and studied at home. She remained positive and prayed. Her son was born four weeks early weighing just 2lbs, 7oz. and spent three months in Neonatal Intensive Care with numerous medical problems. Now at 6 months he is a healthy 13lbs. Her mom’s cancer is in remission and she continues to be Perla’s inspiration and role model. “No matter what, family comes first”, she says. “Nurture your family because they take care of you. Make time for them, you need their support”. Her life experiences have made her more empathetic to patients and she feels she can relate more in times of difficulty. Perla hopes that more Hispanics consider medicine as a career. “Patients are often very happy to see me, often ecstatic. Sometimes they tell me they are very proud of me!”, says Perla. She tells Latino students “never to let obstacles get in their way”. As a mentor in the National Hispanic Youth Initiative she emphasizes to students, “never forget who you are or where you came from, never compromise your culture, and always let that shine because that's what will make you unique in the world of medicine. We all have something different and wonderful to offer to our patients and if that be your culture or language then let that show throughout your path to being a doctor. It will definitely make it a more exciting and enriching experience for you and your future patients.” Her dream is to have a community practice in a low-income neighborhood and to work on public health policy. Making Dreams Reality – Do Not Give Up Grandmother Virginia Cordova is one dedicated and strong woman. At 54, Virginia is working hard on her goal to become a physician; she will take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) next year. Growing up in the South during the time of segregation, Virginia was rejected from the town because of her skin color. Part Puerto Rican and Spanish, her parents fought for her to attend a white school. These were her formative years and helped make her the tenacious person that she is today. At aged 8 she knew she wanted to become a doctor. When she married at 17 her life took her in a different direction. After two marriages and two children Virginia become a single mom and was left to support the family. She re-enrolled in college and become a paramedic. Virginia climbed the ranks of her paramedic career. “I did everything,” she says. “I covered all the bases, we saved and we lost patients. It was a dangerous job and I had guns pointed at me.” As a mother she made a decision that this was not the career for her and she carved a new identity for herself as a radiation protection technologist. One day at aged 50 a friend asked her, “is there something that you have always wanted to do all your life but that thing is so big you feel it cannot be done?” Virginia knew that deep down she had always wanted to be a doctor. The seed of hope was watered again and it came to life. With the support of her now adult children Virginia began planning for this life change. She paid off debt, sorted out her finances and in 2001 re-enrolled in college. Virginia made the National Deans List, twice, and maintains a high GPA, graduating next summer with a Bachelor’s in Biology. “I put my dreams to the side for many years. I looked hard within myself and found out that I still wanted to do it. I looked at the consequences good or bad and I am willing to accept them. I will not give up”, declares Virginia. To anyone who suggests that she has left it too late and won’t offer many years of medical service she tells them, “if I intervene in anyone’s life, even one life, that is invaluable. In five or fifteen years of service I will have helped many lives, these people won’t care what age I am, only that I helped them”. With many obstacles overcome, Virginia’s resolve to finish the race grows stronger. The Facts In October 2003, the American Council on Education found that 37% of all Hispanic women aged 18-24 are enrolled in college, up 10% from 1980. Women in United States medical schools now represent 49.1% of the entering class in 2002, reports the American Medical Association (AMA). In 1970, women comprised just 7.6% of physicians in America, but by 2001 women made up 24.6% of all physicians, reports the AMA. Hispanic women physicians make up just 3.4% of all women physicians. Many organizations are working on increasing minority enrollment in medical school. Stories like Sandy’s, Perla’s and Virginia’s may inspire a new generation of Hispanic women physicians to make a difference in people’s lives. Whether as patients or medical professionals, the world will benefit. Resources: Student National Medical Association - www.snma.org/ Sethina Edwards is president of MomMD.com an online association for women in medicine. This article is scheduled to appear (in Spanish) in "Gente Latina, La Revista" magazine on November 2003.
|
Seed Newsvine