Blogger Q&A: Why AWS?

Brittany Bankhead-Kendall, MD: Camaraderie and advice from women in the same boat as I! As women surgeons we are in a very unique situation and it's so beneficial to have others who have walked before you and have practical advice and inspiration to offer.

Christina Cellini, MD: I originally joined AWS to take advantage of the excellent research funding opportunities that are offered. I have benefited from remaining a member by being inspired by other members who are able to balance work and family and are open and realistic about the many challenges we face in our field.

Amalia Cochran, MD: I joined AWS as a resident when I realized the networking benefits that membership provided. I attended my first AWS meeting in Chicago and still remember being very impressed with this roomful of women surgeons (because, quite frankly, we had 3 women surgeons on faculty where I was a resident, and had no women surgeons on faculty where I went to med school). It was an exciting prospect for me!

As an AWS member, I have benefitted from precisely those networking opportunities. I’ve received some great advice on wisdom over the years from women who are senior to me and I’ve had the opportunity to mentor women who are junior to me. One of the important lessons I’ve learned is that of shared experiences and what we can learn from each other; while we often have a tendency to think that a challenge is unique to each of us as individuals, more often than not someone else has been through something similar and is eager to share what they did right and what they did wrong. 

Erin Gilbert, MD: I joined as a medical student because I was concerned about being a woman surgeon in a predominantly male field (at the time!) 

Celeste Hollands, MD: I joined the AWS in order to apply for the AWS Ethicon grant. Receiving that grant funding launched my academic career. The personal and professional relationships I have developed as a result of becoming involved in the AWS have guided and supported my career and afforded me the opportunity to lead with a group of women I am proud to share my personal and professional journey with.

Bharti Jasra, MD: I was introduced to AWS by my mentor Dr Janet Tuttle-Newhall. She not only introduced me to it but also paid for my membership. Since then I had the opportunity to not only meet and get inspired by great women surgeons but also network with fellow residents and students. Overall it has been a great experience and I would like to continue to work for this organization after completing residency this year.

Sophia Kim McKinley: I joined AWS on a lark - I had just developed an interest in surgery and wanted to see what kind of resources there were for students going into surgery. I did a quick internet search for "Women in Surgery" and that is how I found out about AWS! I was so pleased to discover the electronic version of the Pocket Mentor as well as information about the annual AWS meeting. At that time, none of my friends were planning on going into general surgery, so it was a great comfort to find an organization committed to the flourishing of women like myself. I wanted career resources, the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, and perhaps even some mentoring. AWS membership has given me all of these things and more, including the chance to contribute to the organization's mission through participating on the medical student committee and writing for the wonderful AWS Blog. When more junior medical students approach me about resources for medical students interested in surgery, I always point to AWS!

Lauren Nosanov: I initially was introduced to the AWS through one of our newer female surgeons. I was immediately impressed by the incredible level of professional success represented by the AWS membership. Through my involvement with social media and the Communications Committee, I have come to be better acquainted with a number of members and organization leaders. Each of these women continually impresses me and inspires me, and serves as a reminder of the person and surgeon I want to become. I am grateful for both the friendships and mentorships that have emerged, and expect to be involved for many years to come.

Minerva Romero-Arenas, MD: I joined the AWS to find a support network and mentors in surgery who are open to discussing ways in which women can become leaders in our field. I have truly enjoyed the initiatives from the Association for education, networking, and scholarship.

Mona Singh: I joined AWS at the end of my third year of medical school, shortly after I realized I wanted to be a surgeon. I wanted to get to know, learn from, and be part of an inclusive community of women surgeons at various levels in their career and representing diverse surgical specialties, practices, and perspectives. I was looking for inspirational and grounded mentors and role models, as well as a community where I would be welcome to contribute and grow as a surgeon-in-training. I renew my AWS membership because I have truly found both in this association.

Callie Thompson, MD: I joined because I wanted to connect with more female surgeons. I am surrounding by amazing role models and mentors and I wanted to seek out a greater community of women in surgery. I would say that I have not taken advantage of even 10% of what AWS has to offer but I have received wonderful advice and support from the online community and I look forward to experiencing more in the future.

Jessica Wilson: I study medicine in a country where doctors regularly imply (or sometimes just state outright) that I can't/shouldn't be a surgeon because I am female- that perhaps I should become a pediatrician or a family physician, because those careers are better suited to the demands of womanhood. I joined AWS to learn more about the profession of surgery, to make connections with other surgeons, and to be a part of an encouraging community.

Jane Zhao: At the time I joined, I was involved in the creation of a women in surgery lecture series at my school, and Dr. Lillian Kao suggested that I check out the AWS. Dr. Rosemary Kozar provided extra incentive by offering to sponsor my first year's membership. I can't thank my lucky stars enough that I joined. Since that time, I have forged some truly wonderful friendships and have been blessed to work with extremely talented and open-minded individuals to introduce new initiatives such as social media to the surgical community. I plan on renewing my AWS membership annually for the indefinite future, and I am excited to continue making meaningful contributions to the community via the AWS.

Why did YOU join the Association of Women Surgeons? Share with us in the comments below.

Blogger Q & A: Advice passed down from our mentors

Every once in a while, we'll invite our bloggers to answer a question that's either been submitted by one of our readers or is something that a fellow blogger has been burning to have answered. Keep reading to find out our responses to the following question: 

What is the best advice you have been given by a mentor?

Callie: 1. When you are a junior resident, always ask your attendings and senior residents for their expectations at the outset and check in with them regularly to identify areas for improvement. As a senior resident, you will be less frustrated with your team if you let them know your expectations in the beginning. 2. Every bit of feedback will have a kernel of truth in it that you can use to improve yourself, no matter how small it is, take it and get better. Throw out the rest and never take it personally. (I admit this is totally easier said than done but I truly try to remember it every time I receive feedback.)

Jane: When you find yourself in a bind, ask yourself "What is best for my patient?" and you will rarely ever be led astray. Seek help when you need it, but treat each patient encounter as if you are your patient's one and only resource. For example, if your patient needs a scan or labs drawn immediately, stay by the patient's side, and make sure that happens! You can't predict when everything will turn out okay or if something will go awry, so never cut corners. Approach each patient systematically, starting with a broad differential diagnosis. Whatever you do, make sure you have good reasons to back it up. Read up regularly on all of your patients, always be honest, and remember that a little kindness and tact can go a long way.

Lauren: Be fearless. When given the opportunity, talk to everyone and anyone you can. You never know what value the connections you make now may have later on. This way, when you get to the point in your career when you are applying for fellowship or a job, everyone will already know who you are and you will be the obvious candidate for the position.

Minerva: Stay balanced. This is one piece of advice that has come in one way or another from multiple mentors both in and out of medicine/surgery. The truth is that staying balanced requires a lot of insight into yourself and the career we have chosen. Realizing that surgery can consume you 24/7 if you let it is one of the best ways to protect your personal life. The multiple key points to remember range from finding one thing daily that I can do for myself, to keeping up with one hobby, making time for family and loved ones, or just having something to help blow stress away. Ultimately an unhappy surgeon can make others around him/her just as miserable!

Sophia: “Focus on learning, not performance.” As a medical student, it can be easy to feel that you are constantly being scrutinized and evaluated. A mentor once told me to focus on learning instead of performance, meaning that I should act in ways that maximize my own growth rather than minimizing looking stupid. I felt liberated to ask questions that might seem too basic, and it made it easier to ask my superiors for feedback, help, and guidance. Focusing on growth also gave me a more positive attitude towards work: rather than thinking of tasks or notes as chores, I viewed them as opportunities to get better and learn something. I volunteered to take on more responsibilities as a way to learn more. Of course I made mistakes along the way, but instead of feeling like failures, mistakes felt like chances to learn how not to do something or a chance to try something again. Even though it is still difficult to hear criticism, I now make a conscious effort to change and demonstrate that I am responsive to negative feedback. What is so great about this advice is that in the end, my performance actually does improve as I focus on learning because I am constantly striving to increase my abilities and knowledge.

Do you agree with the advice that we've been given? What are some tidbits handed down to you by your mentors that you'd like to add? What questions would you like for our bloggers to address in a similar fashion in the future?