National Women Physicians Day
My purpose in writing this blog is to reach people that need to hear about the science of Obesity Medicine and who need a different perspective regarding the process of weight loss. I try not to let my personal life spill into this space very often, but I am going to cross that line this time. Next week, in February 3rd, we celebrate National Women Physician’s Day. This day celebrates the birthday of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell – the first female medical doctor to graduate from a U.S. medical school.
Having a woman physician is normal to us today, but it wasn’t always the case. Dr. Blackwell had to push and shove her way into the profession of medicine. Despite being ostracized by patients and educators alike, she managed to graduate first in her medical school class in 1849. And she didn’t stop there. In addition to opening up several clinics for poor women and children, she also established a medical school for women, creating opportunities for countless generations of brave women that felt the calling to be doctors.
I can’t imagine what Dr. Blackwell endured. Even in the 1990’s, when it was completely socially acceptable for women to go to medical school, I was warned repeatedly to avoid it. Men and women alike told me that I would have to sacrifice too much – that I wouldn’t be able to have children or a “normal life”. One woman told me straight up that I was being selfish by taking a good job away from a man that needed it to support his family. Another foretold a future; one in which I would go to med school, find a doctor to marry, then quit to stay home and raise babies (thereby taking one of the coveted spots away from someone apparently more deserving that wouldn’t/couldn’t birth babies). During my training, I was repeatedly addressed as “honey” or “sweetie” by staff and patients alike. Patients would nod their heads when I talked to them and then ask when the doctor would be in. I even went so far as to dye my hair and eyebrows darker to try and appear more studious and respectable!
Fast forward to today. I’ve been practicing medicine for almost 20 years. I’ve done a damn good job balancing my role as a physician with my role as a human and a mother and a friend and a daughter. In addition to doctoring, I also own and manage a clinic fully staffed by women – powerful, amazing women. I didn’t set out to surround myself with women (and I’m certainly not opposed to hiring a man someday – I’ve never actually had one apply!), but right now, that’s who we are, and I love it! In the past three years, my team of women has done amazing things – and we aren’t stopping. It’s an honor and privilege to be a part of such a team and I’m going to see how far we can go.
Kudos to Dr. Blackwell and all of the other women physicians that paved the way for me to be where I am today. Kudos to the women physicians that trained me – most of whom probably endured more obstacles than I did in their pursuit to be a doctor – and who kept encouraging and supporting me. Kudos to the women that are practicing medicine today – who carry a heavy load at work and, more often than not, a disproportionately heavy load at home. And finally, kudos to Dr. Maribeth Orr, who recently gave up a long career in Family Medicine to pursue her dream of practicing Obesity Medicine full-time and agreed to bring her energy and passion onto our team!
Respectfully,
Courtney Younglove, M.D.
