Editor’s Note: A reminder of the early days of women in orthopaedics.
I was banned from the locker room by a well-known college football coach while I was doing my fellowship. When my program director protested, I was allowed in “if I kept quiet”.
I rode my bike to cover football practice in the summer while wearing culottes (split skirt) and a standard shirt. I was reported to my program director for inappropriate dress while covering an athletic event.
When I was eligible for tenure, the typical process of requesting letters from associates and superiors was followed. The athletic director of the university where I served as an educator, did research and provided services such as team physician and event coverage wrote a letter about my “aggressive” nature. It was brought to my attention and I was told I could eliminate it from the many letters being submitted to the tenure committee. I chose to keep it in deciding that the terminology did not flatter me but did indicate that my work was carried out with passion. “Aggressive”, of course, is an unlikely word to describe a male. I was granted tenure.
I had a child early in my practice life. Because of an unexpected vacancy in my section of the department, I was called upon to take a leadership role. Since I valued my career and this job, I had to return to work much more rapidly than planned. Having a two profession marriage, my unexpected work demands placed us in a difficult spot. After discussion, my husband agreed to work from home and to take on much of the childcare responsibilities. Priceless!