Each year since 1987, March is designated as Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation in the United States. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. This March, we highlight those women who have contributed to the field of anesthesiology and pain medicine. 

Interview with Eleni Moka, MD, PhD, MSc, EDRA

Interview with Alexandra Sideris, PhD

Interview with Anne Castro, MD

Interview with Crystal Joseph, MD

Navigating Borders, Bias, and Breakthroughs: A Woman Anesthesiologist's Journey Across Continents

Small But Not Forgotten, the Hidden Strengths of a Woman in Medicine

Interview with Eleni Moka, MD, PhD, MSc, EDRA

Eleni Moka, MD, PhD, MSc, EDRA is the anesthesiology department head at Creta InterClinic Hospital in Crete, Greece, and the current president of the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia & Pain Therapy (ESRA). The opinions expressed in this interview are those of Dr. Moka and do not represent the views or opinions of Creta InterClinic Hospital or ESRA.

Interview with Alexandra Sideris, PhD

Can you tell us your name, where you work and your current leadership roles at your home institution, and other societies?

My name is Alexandra Sideris. I am CV Starr director of pain research at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), where I also serve as the director of the Pain Prevention Research Center in the department of anesthesiology, critical care, and pain management. I am an assistant scientist at the HSS Research Institute and an assistant professor of pain management research in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine. I also serve as associate editor for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.

ASRA Pain Medicine members have an interest in regional anesthesiology and pain medicine related topics. Please tell us some more about your research in this area.

I am privileged to work at HSS, which is a national and international leader in regional anesthesia and pain medicine. The newly launched Pain Prevention Research Center at HSS is unique in its focus and commitment to studying the prevention of pain and associated deleterious outcomes. In my current roles, I lead and support prospective and retrospective studies examining non-opioid approaches to postoperative pain management, including the role of cannabinoids, and the efficacy of peripheral nerve block combinations in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. I coordinated the creation of two institutional registries that capture pain outcomes of patients who are treated on an outpatient basis and patients with preexisting complex pain issues who undergo more invasive surgical procedures at HSS. These databases help our research team better understand and predict severe pain and opioid consumption, and facilitate the development of innovative, collaborative research strategies to prevent and mitigate patient complications, including the development of chronic post-surgical pain. In more recent endeavors, we are growing our chronic pain research program leveraging the unique opportunities we have to study rare conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome. Overall, our efforts are creating a collaborative, dynamic, accessible, and inclusive research environment that spans acute and chronic pain, provides supportive training opportunities, and produces clinically meaningful and informative findings that improve patient outcomes.

Many institutions have made great strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion over the years. Why is diversity, equity, and inclusion important in medicine, health care, and research? 

These principles are important because they foster innovation and inform culturally sensitive approaches to enhance patient care.

Who has served as an inspiration in your life? 

My parents. They exemplify perseverance, resilience, and integrity. I often reflect upon my family history as motivation to do my best and strive for the best, treat everyone with respect, and follow through with my commitments.    

How do you celebrate Women’s History Month?

I try to learn about the accomplishments of a historical woman scientist, mathematician, or physician who was previously unknown to me; however, I celebrate women throughout the year by taking the time to reflect on the support and accomplishments of the brilliant women who surround me, by supporting my colleagues in their academic and professional pursuits whenever I can, and by keeping up with and sharing the newest scientific breakthroughs happening as we speak (and the teams that make them happen)!

Why do you think it’s important to recognize and celebrate Women’s History Month?

It is important to honor the amazing accomplishments made by trailblazing women for the benefit of society because it serves as a reminder that we all have a responsibility to nurture diverse perspectives and inspire future generations.

What challenges have you faced on your journey so far as a researcher and leader? How did you overcome them?

Scientific inquiry by its very nature is a venture into the unknown. While the journey is exhilarating, walking hand-in-hand with success and failure as steady companions puts into perspective that any step forward, even if slow or on an unanticipated path, is a true accomplishment. As I progress in my career, I am grateful to those who believe(d) in me and my ideas, and to those who challenge(d) me or dismiss(ed) my potential. I embrace the learning experiences and new opportunities that arise, remind myself of the privilege of conducting research that can transform patient care, and strive to serve in a leadership capacity that welcomes fresh perspectives and empowers others to succeed.

What career accomplishment makes you most proud?

I am proud of the many firsts I was able to actualize professionally, including being the first woman in my family to earn a doctoral degree. I have the support and respect of my colleagues in my department and across HSS which have enabled me to expand an infrastructure that allows for the study of acute and chronic pain conditions with approaches never before actualized at our institution. I am also proud that I can support the development of young, budding scientists and physicians, often the first in their families to pursue these fields. 

What advice would you give to young physicians and researchers as they navigate their careers?

Self-reflection and self-awareness are key to ensuring career success. Who motivates you? What excites you? What is a challenge facing patient care? What are your strengths? What legacy do you want to leave behind? Surround yourself with people who support and challenge you, nurture relationships that enrich your life and bring new insights, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

Alexandra Sideris, PhD, serves as the CV Starr director of Pain Research and the director of the Pain Prevention Research Center in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York. She is also an assistant professor of pain management research in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine and holds an assistant research scientist position at the HSS Research Institute. She attended graduate school at New York University School of Medicine where she received her master's and doctorate degrees in neuroscience & physiology. Her research interests include acute and chronic pain mechanisms and regional anesthesia and analgesia. She is passionate about training the next generation of researchers and enjoys mentoring trainees at various stages in their careers. When she isn’t at the hospital, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with her family. 

Interview with Anne Castro, MD

Can you tell us your name, where you work, and your current leadership roles at your home institution, and other societies? 

My name is Annie Castro, and I work at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I serve as associate program director for our anesthesia residency program and co-chair of our clinical competency committee, as well as director of our resident regional rotation. 

ASRA Pain Medicine members have an interest in regional anesthesiology and pain medicine related topics.  Please tell us some more about your research, education, or advocacy initiatives in this area. 

I am engaged in both clinical and retrospective research in regional anesthesia, with a focus on enhanced recovery after surgery, pain control in trauma patients, and the use of non-pharmacologic adjuvants in multimodal pain management. I love regional anesthesia’s potential to improve functional outcomes and pain control in patients undergoing painful experiences. I just recently completed a small randomized controlled trial at my institution examining pectointercostal fascial plane blocks with or without rectus sheath blocks in patients undergoing cardiac surgery involving median sternotomy and mediastinal chest tubes, and we are in the data analysis phase of that project. 

I am also very engaged in resident and fellow education. I have worked to develop a formal curriculum within the regional rotation that is complemented by didactic sessions spread throughout the three years of anesthesia residency to ensure that residents are getting consistent exposure to core regional topics. For our overall residency, my niche has been our evaluations and assessment: to try to make sure the residents and faculty are getting regular written and verbal feedback that is specific, actionable, and focused on objective behaviors, in order to minimize the risk of bias and help us all grow as providers. Finally, over the last two years, I have gotten to be co-PI for an educational research project in which we developed and implemented a health care-disparities curriculum rooted in community engagement for first year trainees at MCW from multiple specialties, including anesthesia.  

Many institutions have made great strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion over the years. Why is diversity, equity, and inclusion important in regional anesthesiology and pain medicine?  

Despite the strides that have been made, we know that unfortunately there are still disparities in access to regional anesthesia, as well as disparities in treatment of pain between patients of different backgrounds. Justice is one of the basic principles of bioethics, so as physicians, we have a responsibility to identify the causes for disparities and find solutions to overcome them. In my experience, diverse teams are more likely to be able to do that effectively, as a diverse group brings varied skillsets, perspectives, and ways to connect differently with patients to understand our challenges and create practical, creative solutions. Of course, teams also function best when we are inclusive, when we actually listen to everyone’s diverse perspectives and treat each other with respect. 

Also, I think that diverse and inclusive environments help us to keep growing as individuals, to be able to learn from and empathize with others’ experiences and learn about ourselves in the process.  

Who has served as an inspiration in your life?  

As a physician and woman, during Women’s History Month, I feel inspired by and grateful for the many women who came before me in the field of medicine. There are famous people like Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, or Virginia Apgar, an anesthesiologist who developed the Apgar score and dedicated her research to improving maternal and fetal health. These women encountered enormous barriers and overcame them, paving the way for the rest of us. In addition, I am inspired by the countless others in subsequent generations who may not be well known, but who encountered sexism in big or small ways throughout their careers, and who worked to create solutions. It’s a reminder that we all have the potential to try to address the problems around us and make the world better for everyone else as a result. 

How do you celebrate Women’s History Month? 

I have young children, and there are luckily so many good children’s books available now that highlight the lives of courageous and resilient women throughout history. Women’s History Month is a great time to pull some of those books off the shelf and share these stories with my sons and daughter—it prompts good discussion. It’s refreshing to me that my children’s school also does the same, so my first grader often comes home and tells me stories instead of the other way around, which is lovely. 

Why do you think it’s important to recognize and celebrate Women’s History Month? 

It’s important because it gives us perspective on where we’ve come from; it creates a space to honor those whose hard work, courage, and sacrifices have brought us to where we are today; and it offers us a chance to reflect on where we want to go in the future. It wasn’t so long ago that women couldn’t even vote in the United States, before 1920 (and many women of color didn’t gain the right to vote until decades after that). Many other vital pieces of legislation to protect women’s rights (and men’s rights too!) didn’t come along until much more recently: the Equal Pay Act in the 1960s, or the Family Medical Leave Act in the 1990s. Thinking about the way that United States laws and cultural norms have shifted in the past 100 years leaves me a lot to be grateful for, and it makes me hopeful that we can continue to work to improve things so that future generations look back in one hundred years with gratitude as well. 

What challenges have you faced on your journey so far as a physician and leader? How did you overcome them? 

I think that different stages of training come with different challenges. In the early days of any phase (medical school, residency, attending practice), I have often struggled to identify my niche and/or direction, and I’ve been very grateful for the many mentors who have listened and offered thoughtful advice that has helped to guide me. Also, in the early days of each stage, it has been hard not to fall prey to imposter syndrome. Supportive mentors help with this, too, along with time and experience (as you begin to realize that no one has it all figured out), and anything that helps me center myself, like journaling.  

Finally, like many of my colleagues, I am always striving to find a balance between my very busy professional life and time at home with my wonderful family, or in doing the things that I need to do to be healthy. I know that I’m fortunate to have these good things to balance, and it’s always a work in process. Lots of communication and feedback on all sides is key! 

What career accomplishment makes you most proud? 

I am proud to have been part of the community-engaged health disparities curriculum for our interns. While community engagement is not traditionally associated with anesthesia, I do believe that we are more compassionate and effective providers when we better understand the challenges that our patients face, so I feel very strongly about the content of our curriculum and am grateful that we had a chance to pilot it. Now we are just working on next steps. 

What advice would you give to young physicians and researchers as they navigate their careers? 

Find some good mentors, either at your institution or another institution. Many national societies like ASRA Pain Medicine have mentoring programs for young faculty, and these can be really helpful if you don’t necessarily connect with someone at your own institution. Hopefully you’ll find multiple mentors for all the different areas of your professional life. Also, try to pursue things that you enjoy and/or that pique your curiosity. Sometimes the work is hard and the days are long, but if you really enjoy what you’re doing, this will help you to avoid burnout.  

I also tell our early residents to try to identify the things that are vital to them being healthy, whether that is exercising, sleeping, eating healthily, spending time with family, mindfulness, reading, crocheting, etc., and to try to carve out space in life to do that. During certain life seasons we cannot do everything, but we can do our best to do the things essential for us! 

Anne Castro, MD, is an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in Milwaukee, WI, her hometown. She attended medical school at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and went to Duke University Medical Center for both anesthesia residency and fellowship in regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine. She serves as associate program director for MCW’s anesthesiology residency program. Her clinical interests include holistic perioperative and post-traumatic pain management, as well as medical education. When she isn’t at the hospital, she can be found running, reading, and hanging out with her family, preferably outside. 

Interview with Crystal Joseph, MD

Can you tell us your name, where you work, and your current leadership roles at ASRA Pain Medicine, your home institution, and other societies?

My name is Crystal Joseph, and I am PGY-3/CA-2 anesthesia resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA. I am the rising chair of the ASRA Pain Medicine Resident and Fellow Section Committee (RFC). It has been such a rewarding role, investing in the future of pain medicine by working with my colleagues on initiatives focused on career development, networking, education, and beyond for trainees! Prior to this role, I served as the Social Media Subcommittee co-chair for the RFC. Within my residency program, I serve as one of the recruitment chairs, leading interview dinners, speaking with applicants, and showcasing our residency program at events and through social media. 

Who has served as an inspiration in your life? 

My biggest inspiration in life is my parents, especially my mother. She has always been a proponent of learning and education, and she has pushed me to be a better version of myself every day. As a child of immigrants, achieving the American Dream has always been the goal for my family, and seeing my mother work hard to invest in my future has propelled me to be who I am today. She’s one of my biggest sources of inspiration!

Many institutions have made great strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion over the years. Why is diversity, equity, and inclusion important in medicine and in our subspecialty?

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is important in health care and pain management because not only do we want our patients to feel that they are heard, seen, and valued in their care but also to make sure medical trainees are thriving in their environment, succeeding in their own right. Diversity, equity, and inclusion provides diverse thoughts and perspectives in patient care, health care initiatives, and health care reform within our society. This helps to improve not only the care provided but also revitalize the medical field through the changes made in medical education! Diversity, equity, and inclusion leads to a generation of physicians and leaders who are empowered to change the system for the better, focusing on what is necessary for our patients. 

How do you celebrate Women’s History Month?

Beyond Women’s History Month, I celebrate promoting gender equity through mentorship and leadership, serving on the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Residents and Fellows Section Board. We always find opportunities to highlight trainees through the trainee awards we offer at AMWA! Within the ASRA Pain Medicine Society, the RFC is rolling out an exciting series in collaboration with the Women in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (WRAPM) Special Interest Group (SIG) (more details to follow)! I continue to pay it forward not only as a recruitment chair for my residency program but also as a mentor for my junior residents and medical students. I enjoy mentorship and sharing career, leadership, and education opportunities for my colleagues. These are some of the ways that I celebrate women in medicine throughout the year. 

Why do you think it’s important to recognize and celebrate Women’s History Month?

Women’s History Month reminds us of how far we have come as a society and inspires us to continue to work on making change. Since Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female physician in the United States, we have had continuous growth of female physicians here. Today, women represent approximately 50% of all United States medical school graduates, which is fantastic to see. However, we also need to recognize that this does not translate to the top, and gender disparities continue to exist. A 2022 article by Malinzak and Byerly states that within anesthesiology, about 33% of residents are women, 25% of the anesthesia workforce are female physicians, and 37% of academic anesthesia providers are women.¹ Within pain medicine, the latest 2019 review showed about 22% of pain medicine fellows are female and 18% of pain physicians are women.² So Women’s History Month is important to recognize and celebrate because although we have made great strides in the last century or so, we also need to acknowledge that gender disparity persists and continue to address it. I am very fortunate that I have many inspirational women in my life and career who support and guide me as I navigate higher education and training. I hope that I can pay it forward to the women who come after me. 

Can you tell us about some of the work that the ASRA Pain Medicine Resident Fellow Committee is doing, particularly on diversity and inclusion?

I am so proud of our RFC, especially with so many motivated members who have one goal in mind: providing and bolstering trainee opportunities within the society and the field of pain medicine! Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion subcommittee has been hard at work providing newsletter opportunities for trainees, connecting with the WRAPM SIG, hosting fireside chats on various DEI topics, and compiling cultural competency resources! There has been so much growth over the years within our RFC, and we continue to expand in our initiatives.

What career accomplishment makes you most proud?

For me, trainee development is something I value greatly and want to continue throughout my career. I have always been invested in how I can make experiences better for my junior trainees and medical students. My biggest accomplishment so far in my career are roles that are focused on trainee development such as being the RFC chair-elect. As the rising chair, I am excited with not only the ideas I have in mind but also to keep advancing the initiatives and programs that are already in place for career development! 

What advice would you give to medical students, residents, fellows, and trainees in general as they navigate their careers?

The best advice that was given to me that I would like to share is to keep doors open for those who come after you. As someone who did not have physicians in my family at the beginning of this journey, it was challenging to navigate this process and career. When I was given this piece of advice, it made me realize how important it is to help those who come after you when you’re in a position to give back to the community. I could not have made it here without people who came before me and invested in me, so it’s vital to pay it forward.

Is there anything else you would like to note?

I look forward to meeting everyone at the ASRA Pain Medicine Spring Meeting! This will be a great time to connect and meet so many people with whom I have had the pleasure to work with remotely as well as in person. I hope you all enjoy this meeting. Dr. Vishal Uppal and the team have worked so hard to make it a great experience! 

 References

1. Malinzak EB, Byerly SI. Burnout from gender inequity in a pandemic. Anesthesiol Clin. 2022;40(2):225-234. doi:10.1016/j.anclin.2021.12.001
2. Doshi TL, Bicket MC. Why aren't there more female pain medicine physicians?. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2018;43(5):516-520. doi:10.1097/AAP.0000000000000774

Crystal Joseph, MD, is a PGY-3/CA-2 anesthesiology resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Anesthesiology Residency program in Boston, MA. She is an aspiring interventional pain medicine physician, having been involved in the pain medicine field as a trainee. She is currently the ASRA Pain Medicine Resident and Fellow Committee chair-elect, committed to advancing and developing initiatives for trainee career development and education within pain medicine. She is passionate about leadership and medical education, focusing on improving opportunities and trainee experiences. When she isn’t studying or working, Crystal loves dancing and choreography, and she enjoys listening to the news.

Navigating Borders, Bias, and Breakthroughs: A Woman Anesthesiologist's Journey Across Continents

By Sara Amaral, MD

From Lisbon to Brazil, from war zones in Yemen and Afghanistan to well-resourced operating rooms of the United States, my journey as an anesthesiologist has been shaped by diverse landscapes and cultural contrasts. Each experience has been a lesson in adaptability—not just in anesthesiology but in identity, perception, and resilience.

I was born in Lisbon, where I completed medical school. Portugal, with its fairly equipped hospitals and structured health care system, provided a solid foundation for my training. Yet, I found it challenging to see it as what it should have been: home. My dreams and ambitions seemed to have different geographic outlines, so at 26, I packed my bags, grabbed my cat, and we crossed an ocean, changing hemispheres in search of something different.

In Brazil, I completed my anesthesiology residency and stayed on as an attending, working primarily in public hospitals that served underserved populations. I always felt I could help more where people had less. The daily struggle wasn’t just about patient care but also about working with scarce resources—running an operating room with limited medications, outdated equipment, or even a shortage of basic supplies. But I loved what I did. No matter how under-resourced I was, I always gave my patients the best care possible.

I chose this kind of environment, but resources weren’t the only challenge I faced. Being a woman and adding on a youthful appearance led to skepticism from patients. I lost count of how many times I was mistaken for a nurse, a technician, or a student—even when I was the most senior physician in the room. One of the most striking incidents happened while working in pre-hospital emergencies. My team consisted of a male driver, a male nurse, and me. When we arrived at a very critical patient’s home, his wife turned to me and asked, “Can you handle this, being a woman?” She had assumed the male nurse was the physician. I didn’t have time to be frustrated; I focused on stabilizing her husband, doing what I had trained for. But what surprised me most was that weeks later, she sent a formal letter of gratitude to our service, thanking me specifically and apologizing for making me work under her own pressure and doubt.

During residency, I had never felt gender discrimination—until I learned that my institution didn’t hire women in their permanent workgroup. That moment hit me harder than any assumption a patient had ever made. No matter how skilled or dedicated I was, I would never be given a seat at that table. The weight of that injustice made me want to walk away entirely. Fortunately, change has come since then, and women are now part of that workforce. But at the time, it was a stark reminder that in some places, being a woman meant there was an invisible ceiling, no matter how high you aimed. That was probably one of the moments I realized I didn’t feel at home yet. I still needed to find where that was. So I kept searching for different experiences, in different places. The next stop: Doctors Without Borders.

As I had hoped, some of my most transformative experiences came during my missions in Yemen and Afghanistan. The prospect of working as a woman anesthesiologist in strict Islamic societies initially felt daunting. I was the only woman in an all-male medical team, and I worried about how I would be perceived in a culture with such defined gender roles.

To my surprise, I was immediately accepted as their leader—not just tolerated, but truly respected. The men in my team were eager to learn, and I was eager to teach. There was no cultural barrier between us when it came to medicine. They treated me with care—not condescension, but genuine appreciation, often making sure I was comfortable, fed, and not overworked. It was a different kind of respect than I had experienced before, and it shattered my own assumptions about how I would be treated.

From a resource standpoint, both missions were surprisingly well-equipped—considering that in Yemen we worked in tents and in Afghanistan, in containers. But given my experience working in under-resourced hospitals in Brazil, I adapted quickly. These experiences solidified my belief that good anesthesia is not just about equipment—it’s about skills, care, and flexibility.

After my missions, I returned to Brazil, where I worked for a few more years. But that lingering feeling remained: I still hadn’t found home. So, this time with three cats and a husband, I packed my bags and changed hemispheres once more.

Now, in the United States, I find myself adjusting to the opposite reality of everything I was used to—an abundance of resources. The level of technology, organization, and funding available in American hospitals is something I am still getting used to. One might think it’s easy to adapt to better circumstances, but it wasn’t as immediate as I had anticipated. The reality was different, and in some ways, overwhelming. But more important than resources, here, I have felt a level of professional recognition that I had rarely experienced before. My ideas are welcomed, my expertise is valued, and I am given opportunities that seemed out of reach in other settings.

I love Portugal and Brazil, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about my journey. Looking back, I see how every country and every challenge shaped the anesthesiologist I am today. I have worked in settings with too few resources and am now in one with an overwhelming amount. I have been dismissed, doubted, and underestimated. But I have also been embraced, trusted, and empowered.

Being a woman in anesthesiology is not just about breaking barriers—it is about proving, time and again, that our skills and dedication are what define us. And more than anything, after years of searching, of moving, of proving myself, I can finally say with certainty:

Now, I am home.

Sara Amaral, MD, has always had a strong interest in regional anesthesia. She was a pioneer in Latin America, creating an online platform to teach regional anesthesia in Portuguese, where she gathered nearly 17,000 followers and formally trained over 1,000 students. She also has a strong focus on global health and has worked with Doctors Without Borders in Yemen and Afghanistan, where her primary mission was training local physicians in regional anesthesia and trauma anesthesia. Dr. Amaral is a Portuguese anesthesiologist who completed her anesthesiology residency at Governor Celso Ramos Hospital in Florianópolis, Brazil. She is currently a research scholar in the department of anesthesiology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.

Small But Not Forgotten, the Hidden Strengths of a Woman in Medicine

By Sara Khan, MS-3

Women are leading in higher education enrollment, comprising 54.6% of medical students. This predominance comes with great inspiration and empowerment; however, some remaining biases linger within the field. These prejudices started in my first year of medical school when I posted photos of my white coat ceremony. I was shocked when some commenters replied, “Is this for nursing school?” I had brushed them off, not knowing that this was just the beginning of my role being misattributed as a woman in medicine. 

Fast forward to my third year, where the microaggressions ensued. I introduced myself and my role as I entered each patient’s room. However, the onslaught of comments would sting. I was either a nurse, nursing student, or tech, but never a medical student. Outlandish remarks were made of me “not looking like a doctor.” During one encounter, the patient promptly interrupted and said, “Next time, I want to see the doctor, not the PA.” Even personal matters were asked, such as my timeline for having children or how I would balance raising children with a demanding career. The moment I walked into a room, assumptions were made based on my gender.

After discussing these interactions with my female friends, I realized I was not alone in these situations. Our solution was to introduce ourselves as “student doctors” and wear only business professional attire with a white coat instead of scrubs. This would symbolically define our role on the health care team. I successfully incorporated these changes into my rotations, where I am finally starting to be recognized for my role—just as my male counterparts are the moment they walk into the room in their scrubs.

Being in medical school as a woman is an empowering experience. Many of these moments were within my anesthesia rotation. On my first day, I was initially frustrated with my lack of strength. When intubating, mechanical manipulation was difficult. My arms were shaking after each failed attempt. I discussed this with my male preceptor who declared, “You can either have strength or technique, but you don’t need both to be successful with intubations.” Additionally, I also struggled with single-handed bag-mask ventilation. Since my hands were smaller than many of my colleagues, many of the same procedures required a different approach. My preceptor decided to pair me with his female colleagues who mentored me and taught me some techniques that work for them. I learned the importance of using my body as a lever, where I could generate more force with less movement. These adjustments kept comfort for both the patient and me. With support from the women in anesthesia, I was able to adapt my technique and focus on ergonomics, which contributed to each successful procedure. I knew that I could adapt and find my place in the field.

At the same time, I also learned to let my voice be heard. My anesthesia rotation was the first time I had stepped into an OR, which was an intimidating experience. Medical school does not prepare you for the hidden curriculum when working in the OR. My preceptor explained, “Everyone has their time in the OR, and your time in anesthesia is at the beginning when placing the patient under anesthesia, and at the end when waking the patient up. In those times, don’t be afraid to voice your needs. If the table needs to be adjusted, ask.” A female CRNA told me sometimes it is not that simple. She explained that as a woman, it can be intimidating to speak up in the OR. For example, earlier that day, I had been mocked by the scrub tech as he spoke to his colleagues in a high-pitched voice impersonating my introduction from the previous case. He was unaware that I was in the room. I felt my stomach drop as the CRNA reassured me to ignore it. Despite moments of belittlement, I learned to speak up and vocalize my needs. I left this rotation feeling confident, inspired, and reassured that I belong in this space as a woman in medicine.

Sara Khan is a third-year medical student at Kansas City University. She was born and raised in a small town called Ashburnham in Massachusetts. She joined the ASRA Pain Medicine Diversity Special Interest Group to have a space for support, empowerment, and collaboration. She enjoys snowboarding, crocheting, and gardening.