International Women's Day urges people to reflect on and continue working to ensure that women receive advocacy in a variety of professions, including oncology. As a result, Eirwen M. Miller, MD, believes it is critical to consider the difficulties of balancing priorities, self-care, and personal connections with professional achievements.
"I feel fortunate to work in an institution where my gender [is not] necessarily seen as the defining quality of who I am or what I bring to the table; rather, [I am recognised for] the hard work, commitment, knowledge, and ideas contributed to the team," said Miller, a gynecologic oncologist at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Miller spoke with OncLive® about her experience as a woman in the oncology field, the importance of merit in the workplace and ensuring gender is not seen as a defining quality of oncologists, and the importance of advocating for female patients as a gynecologic oncologist.
OncLive: As a woman in oncology, what challenges have you faced?
Miller: [These obstacles] are certainly not ubiquitous, but it is usual for a woman in the family to carry a slightly higher workload in the home in terms of child care and household chores. One of the most difficult balances to strike is finding time to prioritise my children and make them feel loved while also meeting the critical medical demands of my patients.
[You never want] one of your patients to reflect back on their cancer journey and believe that their doctor did not give them their whole attention. We don't want them to worry whether their doctor missed something or to believe that if we had done or discussed something earlier, things would have been different. Yet, you also know there are a finite amount of hours in each day to pay attention to all the sources of need in your life, and it is a great effort to strike that balance.
What methods or activities could help to reduce gender inequities and promote equal opportunity for women in cancer and medicine?
It stems from a top-down approach, and I consider myself fortunate to work at AHN because I am part of a leadership team that supports women in leadership roles and provides us with equal opportunities to [achieve] them.
Maintaining a high level of professionalism at all times is vital, and we must think critically about the issues that we confront in health care. As a woman at AHN, I've had the support of the leaders above me in both the department and the network to [have] opportunities and accomplish success in both the administrative and clinical aspects of my work every day. Awareness and open discussion of an employee's goals and expectations are critical.
What role does a gynecologic oncologist play in advocating for women as patients?
This is an extremely important aspect of what I do every day, as all of my patients are women. They are ladies in all stages of life, from adolescence to 80 or 90 years of age. Understanding where my patients are in their lives and their priorities [is critical]. [For example, with] mothers who I care for who say they just want to be alive to see their child graduate from college, or a grandmother who wants to feel well enough to attend her grandchild's volleyball game, [I can] help identify the goals in a particular woman's life that we're attempting to accomplish.
Understanding where [an individual] woman is in her life and journey, as well as her aspirations, and attempting to construct a treatment plan around those, assists patients in achieving their goals. Understanding who they are as individuals, women, and family members is critical. [We can't] lose sight of it while we're so focused on cancer treatment.
What is the significance of events like International Women's Day, and how do they help guarantee that women—both carers and patients—are represented in the oncology field?
As a patient group, there is more that can be done to assist women in advocating for themselves. [This is] not because they are hesitant to speak up; rather, they are stoic. They spend a significant portion of their lives living for other people, caring for others, serving as primary carers for their elderly parents or children. Women frequently neglect their own needs.
I can't tell you how many times a lady has walked in and said, 'This has been going on for a year or so, but I didn't have time to get here. My father has been ill, and I have been taking care of him. He died a few months ago, so I decided it was time for me to step in and handle things.' Women [may] typically choose the needs of those around them over their own.
When we consider what International Women's Day means, women must take the chance to address their own daily needs, health concerns, mental health, and wellness so that they do not become lost in all of life's duties.
How can institutions and organisations better advocate for gender equality in the medical field?
It is critical to recognise that contribution in the medical sector is not determined by gender; rather, [appreciation should be focused on] what you bring to the table in terms of knowledge, work, and dedication to patient care. Gender is not at the centre of this.
There are many competing priorities in a day. Trying to spend some time each day thinking about what those priorities are and how you can make time for them all [is critical]. I surely do not have all of the answers to that. I am not sure if I have reached the correct balance [of priorities]. I'm not sure if I ever will. It can be difficult to balance such responsibilities and devote enough time to everything.
To get where we are in medicine, we have spent many years being overachievers and the best of the best. However, you may lose commitment to yourself and forget how crucial it is to sustain all of your connections outside of the hospital. These can include family members, long-term friendships, relationships with your spouse, children, or with oneself. It is difficult to balance all of these things on a daily basis.
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