By Dr Christolyn Raj
In medicine and healthcare, International Women’s Day is less a political celebration and more a timely reminder of egalitarianism and women’s ability.
Ignore the myths
I’ll get this off my plate straight away – there are no specialities or sub-specialties that women are not suited to. Yet some still hold that women and a surgical career don’t mix. It’s true that some surgical specialities are more onerous than others with respect to rigorous training schedules, regional rotations and the challenges of exit examinations. But like all things, training comes to an end. Job sharing, planned leave and staggered start times are all flexible options more available today than they used to be. If neurosurgery does it for you, then that’s the discipline you should pursue.
Do it your way!
There is no recipe for this – do it your way! Know that if you need to start your training part-time, take leave part way through or try something different before deciding – that is fine. There is no rule book for success.
“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life!”
When things feel tough, remember why you chose this career path. For many of us, service and community are key. There are many types of service and there are continually evolving communities. The healthcare sector needs a mix of gender as well as personality styles to effectively care for each unique patient. Passion is contagious and I can assure you that, even if you are in the minority gender wise, you will be able to not just survive – but thrive.
Seek peer support
Lean on your support networks: your close family and friends, work colleagues, study group peers, the new friends and mentors you meet through networking – they will all have tips and life lessons to share that can help you achieve the work-life balance that is right for you.
There are also several peer support networks specifically for women in medicine. Many are free or have a nominal joining fee for interns and JMOs.
Women’s societies run by training colleges – for example, Women in Surgery is a section of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Dr Christolyn Raj is an ophthalmic surgeon, an honorary clinical lecturer and examiner at the Melbourne Medical School at the University of Melbourne and a clinical tutor and examiner for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.