On International Women’s Day, people are urged to pause, consider their actions, and keep up their efforts to guarantee that women are given advocacy in a variety of disciplines, including oncology. According to Dr. Eirwen M. Miller, it is crucial to consider the difficulties in striking a balance between personal relationships, self-care, and professional accomplishments.
“I consider myself lucky to work for a company where my gender is not always perceived as defining who I am or what I can offer; instead, [I am valued for]. The diligence, dedication, skills, and ideas I bring to the group,” stated Miller, a gynecologic oncologist at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Health Network (AHN) West Penn Hospital.
spoke candidly about her experiences as a woman working in oncology, underlined the value of merit in the workplace, making sure that oncologists’ gender is not seen as a defining characteristic, and stressed the significance of gynecologic oncologists’ patient advocacy.
OncLive: As a woman working in oncology, what obstacles have you had to overcome?
Miller: While [these difficulties] are undoubtedly not shared by all families, it is typical for a woman to have a slightly heavier workload at home when it comes to taking care of the family’s needs and household duties. One of the hardest things to balance is finding time to give my kids my whole attention and make them feel loved, all while meeting the critical medical needs of my patients.
You never want to have the impression that a patient feels as though her doctor didn’t give her all of their attention as she looks back on her cancer experience. We don’t want them to question whether her doctor overlooked something or to believe that things might have turned out differently if we had taken action or discussed it earlier. You are aware, though, that there are only so many hours in a day to attend to every source of need in your life, and striking a balance is quite difficult.
What strategies or initiatives could help address gender disparities to provide equal opportunities for women in oncology and medicine?
It stems from a top-down strategy, and I will add that I consider myself lucky to be employed at AHN, where I am surrounded by a leadership team that supports women in leadership roles and provides us with equal opportunity to [achieve them].
We must always act with the utmost professionalism. We also need to consider the healthcare industry’s problems critically. I am a woman at AHN, and leaders in the department and network have supported me in [having] opportunities to succeed in the administrative and clinical work that I do on a daily basis. It’s critical to be aware of and have an honest discussion about an employee’s expectations and ambitions.
As a gynecologic oncologist, what is the importance of advocating for women from a patient perspective?
Since all of my patients are women, this is a crucial aspect of my work every day. These women range in age from puberty to eighty or ninety years old. It’s critical to comprehend my patients’ priorities and current life stages. I can help identify these goals that we are trying to achieve for every woman. Who we work with, like when mothers who care for them say this. She wants to see her children graduate from college, and Grandma wants to feel good enough to attend her grandchild’s volleyball match.
Patients are assisted in achieving their goals when a treatment plan is designed with an understanding of the aims and circumstances of each [individual] lady. It’s critical to recognize their identities as women, individuals, and family members. When we concentrate on cancer treatment, [we can’t] lose sight of it.
What is the importance of events such as International Women’s Day, and how do they help ensure women—both caregivers and patients—are being advocated in the oncology space?
There is more that can be done to support women in advocating for themselves as a patient population. This is not that they are mute; rather, it is that they are stoic. For the most part of their existence, they live for other people, look after other people, take care of their old parents, or look after their children. Women tend to prioritize other people’s needs over their own.
Countless women have approached me, stating, “I didn’t have time to get here. But this has been going on for about a year.” I have been caring for my father while he has been ill. I felt that it was time for me to come and take care of things since he died away a few months ago. Women frequently neglect their personal needs in an effort to care for those around them.
When we consider the significance of International Women’s Day, we should remember that women have their own needs. For health issues, mental health, and overall well-being, women should take advantage of the opportunity to attend regularly so that they are not overlooked by others’ obligations in life.
How can institutions and organizations play a better role in advocating for gender equality within the medical field?
It is crucial to remember that contributions to the medical field should be valued for their knowledge, diligence, and dedication to patient care, not for a person’s gender. It is not primarily about gender.
A day is filled with conflicting priorities. Consider these priorities and determine how best to allocate time to each of them. It is very important to try to set aside sometime each day. To be sure, I don’t know [all] the answers. I’m not sure if I’ve achieved the proper balance [of priorities]. It’s unclear to me if I ever will. It might be challenging to strike a balance between those goals and find time for everything.
To get to this point in medicine, we had to spend many years among the best and the achievers. But it is possible that you will not be so committed to yourself, and you won’t realize how important it is to maintain all of your relationships outside of the hospital. These could include your relationships with your spouse, your children, your family, close friends, or even your relationship with yourself. It’s difficult to maintain that balance every day.