So you want to be a female surgeon

One of my pet peeves as a medical student when I mentioned in conversation thatI wanted to be surgeon was eternally getting the response:  "Oh, my [daughter/fiance/wife/mother/sister/someone I met on the internet] thought about doing that. But then she decided she wanted a family. So she became a [family doctor/PA/NP/insert something that has nothing to do with surgery here]."

I'm here to tell you that it is hard work but not impossible to be a female surgeon.

You can be a single female surgeon.

Or you can be married without kids.

Or you can be married with kids.

And no matter which you choose, you can still run a practice, have hobbies, and/or be an academic.

The training is hard (okay, really hard), and yes, being on call and pregnant may be a special type of torture.  You will be called "nurse" a lot along the way, and you'll either feel guilty about leaving the kids or guilty for not having them at all.

But at the end of the day, surgeons have amazing careers that take every form from subspecialist to generalists, shift work to private practice.  Even with the extra potential burden of motherhood, being a female surgeon is a completely reasonable and rewarding career choice.  I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life.  I look forward to passing that passion for health and healing on to my future kids.  Don't worry about the folks who said they didn't want to do surgery.  If you truly do, you and your ninja time management skills will find a way.

Don't believe me?  Check out Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, one of the original American civil war surgeons who carved a path for women and the only female recipient of the medal of honor.  There are a number of great resources online, but just trust in yourself.  If you want to be a surgeon, then go be one. 


Til next time,
Petite Surgeon