Being Fem in EM
Being Fem in EM
Jan. 15, 2023
Do you have questions about equality, wage gaps, or navigating residency and life as a woman in emergency medicine? Even if you're thinking, "Not me, can't relate" stick around anyway to gain some valuable perspective from EMRA*Cast host Lizzii Le, MD, and guests Arlene Chung, MD, MACM, FACEP, and Diane Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP.
Host
Elizabeth Le, MD
Mercy Health - St. Rita's
@LizziiLeMed
EMRA*Cast Episodes
Guests
Arlene S. Chung, MD, MACM, FACEP
Program Director, Maimonides Medical Center
CORD Board of Directors, 2023
NY-ACEP Board of Directors, 2023
EMRA Articles
Twitter: @ArleneSujin
Diane Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
Emeritus Professor of Emergency Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
@DianeBirnbaumer
Overview: Being a female in a profession that was previously dominated by males can present with some unique challenges. In this episode, Dr. Arlene Chung (@arlenesujin) and Dr. Diane Birnbaumer (@DianeBirnbaumer) discuss what it is like being a female in Emergency Medicine with EMRA*Cast Host Dr. Lizzii Le (@LizziiLeMed).
Take-home Points
- Pros and Cons of being a female in EM is that sometimes you will be first to experience something. Take this chance to see the glass half full!
- Aging and garnering more experience helps with gaining respect from patients and peers.
- There may be some financial disparity if you choose to pursue a fellowship that your male counterparts do not experience, or if you choose to take more time for maternity leave. Keep that in mind.
- Having a patient-based outlook will help you as the physician better communicate with other staff members when bringing up issues regarding patient care.
- Always introduce yourself as Doctor. Period.
- There is no perfect time in residency to have children. If you are planning to have a child, be sure to speak with your program leadership about it! There may be benefits available that you don’t know about.
- You are wonderful. You are smart. You are capable of changing the world!
