February 3rd is the birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to become a licensed physician in the United States. That is why every year, on her birthday, we celebrate National Women Physicians Day. According to Forbes, Dr. Blackwell was originally allowed to attend medical school as a joke. While she may have proved doubters wrong, it seems that many still think of women in medicine as a joke. Forbes reports that in the medical field “women’s salaries are nearly $20,000 less on average than those of their equally skilled, equally experienced male counterparts, or about 8%…” This discrepancy is baffling to me since some of the best doctors I see are women.
I have seen the same rheumatologist for years. She treats my juvenile idiopathic arthritis. I actually first saw her when she was in training as a fellow in pediatrics. She always listens to me and knows that I know my joints the best. She trusts my judgement just as I trust hers. Out of all of the doctors I see, she is the one that I have the best relationship with. My cardiologist is also amazing. She was instrumental in ensuring that I was diagnosed with POTS quickly after I started showing symptoms. She is the best doctor in the area for POTS and has given me the absolute best treatment I could ask for. My gastroenterologist is one of the sweetest people. She helped me through a very difficult flare with kindness and understanding. She has found what treatment works best for me and sticks with it. I could not ask for a better psychiatrist. I feel comfortable talking to her and I know she does all that she can to help me. She is always ready to listen and does her best to understand.
When I think of these women that I have on my care team, I feel very blessed. They are all phenomenal physicians and incredible people. I trust them all with my treatment and I feel that they reciprocate that trust. I don’t know what I would do without them. I don’t know what my life would look like if Dr. Blackwell hadn’t been brave enough to take the first step for all women in the medical field years ago. Medelita says of National Women Physicians Day, “Today we celebrate the courage of Elizabeth Blackwell and celebrate the accomplishments of female physicians by setting aside February 3rd as a national holiday to honor these tenacious women and the obstacles they have overcome.”
Chronic and Courageous 