COM Outlook Spring 2019

8 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE positions in my career that were not based on the number of patients seen. However, I can never be certain I was being paid the same as similarly qualified male colleagues.” PREJUDICIAL ATTITUDES STILL EXIST For a country as progressive as the United States, it is still difficult to fathom that women only acquired the right to vote a century ago when Congress ratified the 19th Amendment to the Constitution on August 18, 1920. What is not so difficult to comprehend, however, was the predicament faced by Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D.—the first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. When Blackwell received her M.D. degree from New York’s Geneva Medical College in 1849, she graduated at the top of her class. Sadly, although she had received the necessary training and degree, the medical community banned her from practicing medicine. What followed were years of frustration as she sought to practice and prove herself in a male- dominated profession. Although circumstances for female physicians have improved greatly since Blackwell’s time, remnants of these prejudicial attitudes still exist. “I believe gender bias is entrenched in society based on the cultural norms in which we are raised. The belief that women don’t work as hard, don’t see as many patients, don’t want to work long hours, and are distracted by outside interests is such a gross generality,” Wallace-Ross said. “I immediately counter those messages internally and dismiss the comments of the Texas physician as someone whose opinion of me does not matter,” she added. “I care less and less about what others think of me as a woman physician and try to just do my best, be the best me possible, and enjoy the fruits of my own labors.” Paula Anderson-Worts, D.O., M.P.H., a KPCOM alumna and assistant dean of faculty affairs, said the comments made by the Texas physician represent some of the challenges faced by women in medicine. “Gender bias and lack of cultural sensitivity are common in the medical field. In many cases, the misperceptions about women in medicine are due to egocentricity, lack of knowledge, and inexperience,” she added. Pandya provided an interesting theory on why she thinks some aspects of this bias still exist. “Women physicians tend to be more modest and less vocal concerning self-promotion and documentation of their achievements,” she explained. “They think doing a great job is all part of what they signed up for, so they do not take credit for all the hard work they do. I had to learn to be more forthcoming and less modest about taking credit for my work and any innovations or improvements I was responsible for implementing.” MOVING THE NEEDLE ON GENDER BIAS Despite considerable progress, it is clear more needs to be done to bridge the many gaps that still exist for female physicians. “Whatever the origin, it may or may not be possible to change the worldview of an individu- al physician by proving him wrong,” Wallace-Ross said. “I feel the proof is in the actions of the innumerable women I have trained with and work with, and the great accomplishments they have achieved. Actions speak so much louder than words.” According to Anderson-Worts, “The key to help- ing address gender bias in medicine is through role modeling, education, and exposure. As a female and “I can never be certain I was being paid the same as similarly qualified male colleagues.” —Naushira Pandya, M.D., CMD, FACP BATTLING BIAS