Editor’s Note: The value of relationship building for women in orthopaedics was not well understood by women decades ago, especially prior to women participating in team sports.
“Surgery is a team sport. ‘The Lone Cowboy Orthopaedic Surgeon’ is gone.” I have learned these facts over my time as an orthopaedic surgeon.
Orthopaedic surgery, for me, was a second career. I entered my residency program older than my cohort at a time when few women were in the field. I also carried with me an unearned social stigma that trailed me over time and separated me from many of the others. I will not disclose the details here. I can only say, I was surprised. It was not how I imagined it would be.
As a resident, I felt I had to stay focused on “survival” and found it hard to lift my head above the immediate work to think strategically about my career. I was socially isolated, “different” as the lone woman my year, and was not privy to the wisdom passed from resident to resident. I was not part of the network that discussed how to pass the OITE, how to find the best resources for mastering a challenging surgical technique, or how to lay the groundwork for a future fellowship or job. In other words, I didn’t have a copy of “The Orthopaedic Play Book.”
During my adolescent years, girls did not commonly participate in team sports and certainly not competitive sports. I enjoyed individual recreational sports activities but never in concert with others. As a resident, my need to defend and protect myself got in the way of focusing on team building or developing long lasting friendships. I rarely was able to savor the feeling of “belonging”.
My fellow residents were not horrible people, nor did they have ill-intent, they were simply misinformed. I was naïve and a woman, not wise enough to focus on building bridges and not really welcomed to do so.
Comparing now with then, thankfully, I can see that change in orthopaedics has occurred. It is broadly understood that community and cooperation are now a necessity in surgery and in the medical community as a whole. To practice effectively, safely, and efficiently, we must collaborate with other orthopaedic surgeons, mid-level providers, hospitalists, allied health personnel and surgical staff. I suspect orthopaedic resident teams now see the value in working collaboratively as well. Individuals who are not cooperative or collegial can, with cause, be dismissed from residency, hospital, and clinic staff positions.
What can others learn from my experiences as a resident?
• Be positive despite what you perceive others might be thinking. Lift your head.
• Learn to socialize with colleagues and create a community you can be part of.
• Be strategic in planning for each successive career step such as residency, fellowship, and job of choice.
• Learn the “Play Book” and pass on the pearls of valuable information to others. Lift as you climb.
• The groundwork laid during residency and fellowship can provide lifelong benefits.
On a final note, I have had a varied & fulfilling orthopaedic career. I have had opportunities to contribute, not only to patient care, but to the design of health care delivery. I have found leadership roles to be very satisfying and an avenue for team building. Whether it be in a multispecialty group practice, an AAOS committee, or an AAOS specialty society, there has been much to be learned and to share with colleagues. I am grateful for these opportunities.