February 3rd is National Women Physicians Day – the 202nd birthday of a woman who was famously allowed to attend medical school as a joke. She proved everyone wrong about her “intellectual inferiority” and became the first woman in America to earn her medical degree. She was Elizabeth Blackwell.
Join me and ACG in celebrating the achievements of all women physicians in gastroenterology. The field of medicine historically has been dominated by men. Because of this, women physicians face challenges and obstacles, including earning less, which makes entering and staying in the field difficult. While male doctors still make up the majority of physicians, medical schools have more women than men enrolling.
How ACG is Supporting Women Gastroenterologists
As the chair of ACG’s Women in GI Committee, it’s important to note that the committee supports women by encouraging participation and advancement of female gastroenterologists, promoting research and understanding of gender differences in gastrointestinal diseases, and more. The committee provides information for women gastroenterologists on academic and private practice positions, work-life balance, pregnancy, books and articles on burnout, the glass ceiling, gender inequality, teamwork, leadership, and more.
Articles of Interest
- Women in Medicine: Honoring the Past and Bringing Women Further into the Scope of Gastroenterology; Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, FACG, The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2023
- “Let’s Have some Clarity on Academic Parity,” Debbie Shawcross and Florence Wong, The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2023
- “Closing the gender gap in gastroenterology leadership: the need for effective and comprehensive allyship” Amy Oxentenko; Siwan Thomas-Gibson; Aline Charabaty, The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2022
- Watch: AJG Lecture with Dr. Amy Oxentenko at ACG 2021, “Bringing Women into the Scope of GI”
ACG’s Women Past Presidents
- Christina M. Surawicz, MD, MACG (1998-1999)
- Amy E. Foxx-Orenstein, DO, FACG (2007-2008)
- Carol A. Burke, MD, FACG (2016-2017)
- Sunanda V. Kane, MD, MSPH, FACG (2018-2019)
- Neena S. Abraham, MD, MSc (Epid), MACG (Director, ACG Institute)
- Sita S. Chokhavatia, MD, MACG (Vice Chair, Board of Governors)
- Dayna S. Early, MD, FACG (Chair, ACG Board of Governors)
- Millie D. Long, MD, MPH, FACG (Co-Editor-in-Chief, The American Journal of Gastroenterology)
- Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, FACG (ACG Vice President)
- Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG (Trustee)
- Renee L. Williams, MD, MHPE, FACG (Trustee)
- Alyn Adrain, MD, FACG – Rhode Island
- Aline Charabaty, MD, FACG – District of Columbia
- Sita S. Chokhavatia, MD, MACG – Northern New Jersey
- Raquel Croitoru, MD, FACG – Idaho
- Shanti L. Eswaran, MD, FACG – Michigan
- Ann D. Flynn, MD, FACG – Utah
- Jill K. J. Gaidos, MD, FACG – Connecticut
- Christine Y. Hachem, MD, FACG – Missouri
- Brenda J. Hoffman, MD, FACG – South Carolina
- Shivangi T. Kothari, MD, FACG – Northern New York
- Joyann Kroser, MD, FACG – Eastern Pennsylvania
- Julia F. Massaad, MD, FACG – Georgia
- Rathi Narayan, MD, FACG – Tennessee
- Kunjali Padhya, MD, FACG – Washington
- Shabana F. Pasha, MD, FACG – Arizona
- Nikila Ravindran, MD, FACG – Ontario
- Neelima G. Reddy, MD, FACG – Louisiana
- Vonda G. Reeves, MD, MBA, FACP, FACG – Mississippi
- Alison Schneider, MD, FACG – Southern Florida
- Sapna V. Thomas, MD, FACG – Northern Ohio
- Anne G. Tuskey, MD, FACG – Virginia
- Sophie M. Balzora, MD, FACG – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
- Sita S. Chokhavatia, MD, MACG – Membership Committee
- Sarah K. McGill, MD – International Relations Committee
- Monica R. Nandwani, DNP, RN, FNP-BC – Advanced Practice Providers Committee
- Yolanda Rivas, MD – Pediatric Gastroenterology Committee
- Anne G. Tuskey, MD, FACG – Training Committee
- Kara M. De Felice, MD – Women in GI Committee
The American Journal of Gastroenterology Editorial Board
- Millie D. Long, MD, MPH, FACG – Co-Editor-in-Chief
- Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG – Senior Associate Editor
Associate Editors:
- Jessica R. Allegretti, MD, MPH, FACG
- Jennifer A. Flemming, MD
- Sara N. Horst, MD, MPH, FACG
- Allison R. Schulman, MD, MPH
Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology Editorial Board
- Violeta Popov, MD, PhD
- Eugenia Shmidt, MD
- Elena Stoffel, MD, MPH
ACG Case Reports Journal Editorial Board
- Yvette Achuo-Egbe MD, MPH, MS
- Divya Chalikonda, MD
- Khushboo Gala, MBBS
- Jennifer Onwochei MD, MPH, MS
- Shazia Rashid, MD
Healio 2022 Woman Disruptor of the Year Award
Congratulations Allison R. Schulman, MD, MPH! This award goes to a woman in the field of GI who leads by example and inspires the next generation of women to build successful careers in the field. The awardee has a career of positive disruption and recent advancements through which she has made a positive impact in GI. Read more here.
References
Burns, Janet. “On National Women Physicians Day, A Reminder That Women Save More Lives For Less Pay.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, February 6, 2017. https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2017/02/03/on-national-women-physicians-day-a-reminder-that-women-save-more-lives-for-less-pay/?sh=519c9c617cd9.
Michals, Debra. “Elizabeth Blackwell.” National Women’s History Museum. 2015. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/elizabeth-blackwell.
Today, National. “NATIONAL WOMEN PHYSICIANS DAY – February 3, 2021,” January 6, 2021. https://nationaltoday.com/national-women-physicians-day
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2017/02/03/on-national-women-physicians-day-a-reminder-that-women-save-more-lives-for-less-pay/?sh=519c9c617cd9