Becoming a leader in anesthesiology: challenges women face

Norah Janosy MD, Rebecca Margolis DO, and Myron Yaster MD

About 20 years ago at a symposium at the Johns Hopkins Hospital devoted to challenges that women face in their career development, one of the speakers, who was a Professor of Pediatrics and Genetics and a Lasker award winner, was asked by a member of the audience “what is the single most important advice she could give to young women faculty?”  Without missing a beat she said” “Marry well” and dropped the mic(rophone).  I’ve never forgotten that advice and tried my best to not only live it but to pass it along to my students and mentees.  I’ve asked Dr. Norah Janosy and Dr. Rebecca Margolis, of the PAAD’s executive council to review and comment on an article from Anesthesiology News1 that many of you, regardless of gender identification, may find extremely useful. 

Much of today’s PAAD and its pearls of wisdom come from Dr. Allison Fernandez’s multimedia interviews “Women of Impact” published by the ASA (www.asahq.org/womenofimpact).  We’ve previously highlighted many of these video interviews in the PAAD. Today’s article ties many of the concepts of these interviews together in one cohesive place.  Myron Yaster MD

Original article

Fernandez AM, Raman VT, Olbrecht VA. Becoming a Leader in Anesthesiology: 10 Challenges Women Face. Anesthesiology News. New York, NY: McMahon Publishing Company; November 2022. p. 108-111.

Multimedia review

Katherine Manupipatpong.2  Women of Impact in Anesthesiology: A Professional Advice Column for Women in Medicine.  Anesth Analg. 2022 Jul 1;135(1):e1. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006040. Epub 2022 Jun 16. PMID: 35709452

As we’ve discussed in several previous PAADs, women are behind in leadership roles in our profession—only 13% of Chairs and 17% of full professors are women.  In today’s PAAD, the authors summarize the top 10 challenges women face in becoming  leaders in anesthesiology (or really any medical field):2

1)          Support System/Resources:  You need a personal support system.  You need support if you choose to have a family.  You need support at work:  colleagues, mentors, sponsors, and networking are all key.

2)          Find Your Passion:  You need to find your niche or passion within the field of anesthesiology.  This will both help to advance your career and protect against burnout.

3)          Leadership Skills: Develop leadership skills throughout your career.  Take classes, engage in workshops, broaden your skill set, and continue to learn throughout your career.

4)          Opportunity knocks:  When you are given a leadership opportunity, take it!  Leadership opportunities sometimes are volunteer positions.  These can be in your department, at your home institution, or in a National Societies, find what is meaningful to you.

5)          Squiggly lines:  Your career will have twists and turns, the options are endless, there are many roles, and the growth of your career is a process, really a marathon, and it will take time. 

6)          Promotion:  Know your institution's requirements and know what counts and what doesn’t.  Spend energy on the activities that count and don’t be afraid to say “no” to those activities that don’t.

7)          Mentors:  Seek out mentors and sponsors who will help your career to grow and develop.

8)          Manage work-life balance:  Each person’s career will progress over time based on their values, goals, personal beliefs, family choices, and demands.  I (NJ) don’t think there is such a thing as work-life balance (see below).

9)          Face Gender Bias and Racial Discrimination: Overt and subtle biases continue and may happen to you during your career.  What form it takes, how the experience manifests, and the outcome of the experience will be very personal.

10)        Networking:  The SPA’s WELI (Women’s Empower Leadership Initiative) program has demonstrated the power of networking in developing a successful career. 3, 4 “Show up, stand up, and speak up”.  Going to local and national meetings, introducing yourself, and joining committees are essential in the networking process.

Not really discussed though, is the myth that as a modern woman you “can have it all”.  Indeed, I (NJ) grew up in a family full of strong women.  Having it all in my book meant that I could be at the top of my profession, in a loving relationship with healthy, well-adjusted children, and be rested, and well-adjusted myself.  My life experiences have taught me that “having it all” is a big fat lie that sets up women with a sense of failure, depression, and lack of self-worth.  The idea that there is balance or perfection in life where all the ducks are in a row, and you are awesome at work and awesome at home just isn’t possible.  I’ve learned the hard way as did all the interviewees that you can have it all but just not at the same time. Perhaps a pragmatic way to think about it is every day you have a choice: you can take great care of patients, be present at a parent, take care of yourself, and give energy and attention to your partner … just not all on the same day.

Today’s PAAD is a roadmap for success for all of you regardless of gender.  Let us know what you think.  Myron will post in a reader’s response.

References

1.           Fernandez AM, Raman VT, Olbrecht VA. Becoming a Leader in Anesthesiology: 10 Challenges Women Face. Anesthesiology News. New York, NY: McMahon Publishing Company; November 2022. p. 108-111.

2.           Manupipatpong K. Women of Impact in Anesthesiology: A Professional Advice Column for Women in Medicine. Anesthesia and analgesia. Jul 1 2022;135(1):e1. doi:10.1213/ane.0000000000006040

3.           Schwartz JM, Markowitz SD, Yanofsky SD, et al. Empowering Women as Leaders in Pediatric Anesthesiology: Methodology, Lessons, and Early Outcomes of a National Initiative. Anesthesia and analgesia. Dec 1 2021;133(6):1497-1509. doi:10.1213/ane.0000000000005740

4.           Schwartz JM, Wittkugel E, Markowitz SD, Lee JK, Deutsch N. Coaching for the pediatric anesthesiologist: Becoming our best selves. Paediatric anaesthesia. Jan 2021;31(1):85-91. doi:10.1111/pan.14041