Women in Medicine: Why GI

In celebration of Women in Medicine Month, ASGE asked women at all stages of their career in medicine, why they selected medicine and gastroenterology as their profession. Hear is what they had to say.

Robin B. Mendelsohn
Associate Attending
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
How many years have you been in practice: 10

What inspired you to pursue a career as a physician? 
As I remember it, when I was 4 years old my brother was born. Soon after that my grandmother suffered a stroke. I couldn’t understand why doctors could bring my brother into this world but couldn’t help my grandmother get better. I wanted to be a doctor after that to be able to help everyone. This desire became stronger throughout my experiences in high school and college, and now, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

How can we encourage more women to enter the field of gastroenterology?
Through mentorship. We all stick together!

Any advice you would give to help continue to advance women in GI?  
It’s a journey. There are bumps, but in the end, there is no more rewarding experience than changing peoples’ lives. We need smart, compassionate women to continue this important journey.

What are you passionate about in medicine (GI) and why?
I chose gastroenterology because it is a wonderful combination of clinical patient care, endoscopic procedures and research. I love caring for people with a wide variety of diseases and enjoy being part of the entire spectrum of cancer-related care, from screening to end-of-life care. I have a particular interest in education, and I am committed to increasing the representation of women in medicine. It is an honor and privilege to both work with such amazing colleagues as well as to take care of patients.

Something about me?
I love to travel and have missed this during COVID. I look forward to life returning and am still working on trying to figure out how to do colonoscopies on the beach.

Rabia de Latour, MD
Director of Endoscopy, Belleve Hospital Center; Associate Program Director, NYU GI Fellowship; Assistant Professor of Medicine, NYU Grossman SOM
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
How many years have you been in practice: 3

What inspired you to pursue a career as a physician? 
My father inspired me to pursue a career as a physician. After completing his training in Pakistan, he moved to Canada with very little and essentially had to start from scratch with virtually no resources. He is the hardest working person I know. Growing up, we were inundated with messages from thankful patients telling us he had saved their lives. As a child that really resonated with me. 

How can we encourage more women to enter the field of gastroenterology?
Fostering relationships with trainees and offering our hand as mentors is a great way to encourage trainees to pursue gastroenterology. Additionally, simple representation within previously male-dominated fields empowers female trainees to essentially see themselves in our shoes – representation matters! 

Any advice you would give to help continue to advance women in GI? 
Increasing the presence of women in leadership positions, hands on courses, live courses and panels will help showcase the amazing things that women in GI are doing. 

What are you passionate about in medicine (GI) and why?
I am extremely passionate about healthcare delivery to marginalized and underserved populations, which is why I chose to work at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City. To be able to provide first-rate care to people who have limited to no resources and often struggle with poor health care literacy brings me fulfillment as a physician and human. 

Something about me?
I am an interventional endoscopist, wife, mother of two and am extremely passionate about increasing the number of women within my field! 

Dimpal Bhakta, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Center for Interventional Gastroenterology at UT Health (iGUT)
Years in practice:  3 months

 What inspired you to pursue a career as a physician?
My parents are immigrants who came to this country to give their future children a chance at a stellar education and better opportunities. Their sacrifices and their teachings on the importance of helping people inspired me to pursue medicine. Coming from humble beginnings also allowed me to appreciate the importance of caring for others, community and sacrifice. 

How can we encourage more women to enter the field of gastroenterology?
As the field of gastroenterology grows and there is more representation of women, especially at higher levels of leadership, young women in training will naturally gravitate to this specialty. I say this because I pursued a career in advanced endoscopy mainly because I had women in the field as mentors who inspired and motivated me. 

Any advice you would give to help continue to advance Women in GI?  
I think the best advice is to understand our worth and value as women in GI!

What are you passionate about in medicine (GI) and why?
My main passion is training because without my mentors, I would not be where I am now. I want to hopefully be able to do that for others.