You Have Permission to Grieve
My husband and I had been trying to conceive for a few months. So, we were overjoyed when we saw the double lines on the home pregnancy test. As a practicing high-risk OB/GYN (also known as a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist) I had ultrasound access at my fingertips. I experienced mild cramping a few weeks after […]
To Raise Strong Daughters, We Must First Raise Ourselves
I have a room full of trophies: Volleyball, swimming MVP, track medals, four -hr ribbons, reading book challenge, high honors, journalism awards…small trophies, big trophies, medals. All with marble bottoms and shiny exteriors. Some heavy enough to be used as a weapon. The other night my daughter asked me, “Mommy can I have a trophy?” […]
Behind the Scenes of the WIWC Writers Fellowship
I am a Writers Fellow for Women in White Coats. How did I get here, and what is it like? Would you like to be in the next class of physician writers? When I started feeling overwhelmed and burned out in my life and career, I sought out help in the form of podcasts, presentations, […]
Stress – To Assess or Ignore? That is the question!
Stress can sometimes be apparent when you feel overwhelmed, anxious, irritable, or have difficulty relaxing. But sometimes, it is perceived as “this is just the way it is” without realizing how it makes you feel. We all have had some level of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us had stress before COVID, which […]
Budget 101 for Women Doctors
This pandemic has been an excellent opportunity to think and talk about money and finances. The eye-opening moment was when I saw my credit card bills once the shelter in place order was placed. I thought I was spending a fraction of my normal. Where had my money been going? I am grateful to the […]
Tips for Surviving Newlywed Life in Medicine
Relationships in medical training are never easy. I was engaged while long-distance, planned a wedding from across the country, and did not move in with my husband until six months after we tied the knot. And this was all before the pandemic, so I can only imagine how tough it is now. It was a […]
Beyond Dr. Blackwell: A History and Physical
CC: Female physician wearing scrubs, #wearfigs History of Presenting Illness (HPI): Figs is a scrubs company owned by females The company released an ad for their scrubs x 1 day The ad portrayed a female physician as (in no particular order): Dumb (Reading “Medical Terminology for Dummies” upside down) Very, very young White Waif thin […]
Know Your Breastfeeding Rights
Have you ever had your rights violated as a breastfeeding woman? Have you ever been told that you cannot breastfeed your baby or cannot pump when you needed to? A recent news story about a breastfeeding mom in California described her experience in online higher education classes. Her professor said that the camera and microphone […]
Reflections on Confidence: How to be a Rockstar in 2021
At the end of 2016, I found myself on a crisp overcast day staring across the Seine at the Eiffel Tower and the surrounding park. I was stretching and about to hit start on my watch for a twelve-mile training run. The day before, I had traveled alone over the Atlantic, taken a train to […]
Transforming Your Pain & Grief During the Holidays
It is the holiday season. All around us are commercials, advertisements, and decorations promoting “Holiday Cheer!” We are inundated with expectations of joy and happiness on television, radio, and the internet. However, some of us may have a heavy heart due to losing a loved one and need encouragement. Grief around the holidays is often […]
