Editor’s Note: This story counters a common belief.
Don’t accept the narrative that women always make less money than the men in orthopedic surgery. Working for a not-for-profit institution in a particular state mandated that my salary be published for all the public to read. One of the surgical nurses took me by surprise one day and asked why I made so much more money than the two other orthopedic surgeons, both male, who were also employed by the hospital. I said that I didn’t know that I did. She said, “Look right here, you do!” while holding up a printed page taken from the internet.
One of the other surgeons had done a fellowship. I did one as well but mine was done 17 years after finishing my orthopedic residency. My trauma fellowship allowed me to provide a highly valued service to the institution. I was generously compensated for it.
Would I do my career over in another way? No, I wouldn’t. In addition to doing a midlife trauma fellowship, I spent several years with the Public Health Service, served as an ER doc and became a partner in a private orthopedic surgery practice which later dissolved. I also became board certified in addiction medicine. I now teach medical students, advise residents & do locum tenens work in a nearby state. I have achieved full professor status. Life is good.