Louisville Medicine Volume 64, Issue 10 | Page 25

offer . I also learned that small efforts , such as vaccination programs , education support , and personal service had the potential to make a difference . As a social worker who had responsibility for children in long-term placement as a result of medical conditions or family disintegration , I learned about the bureaucracy of getting care for individuals who had few resources . When I started work at the Treasury Department , I found out that I was one of the first women in my position ( which was billed as “ economic social work ” by an interviewer ), and had to prove my mettle by taking on additional duties and getting an advanced degree to even get consideration for a promotion . An offer of an administrative position pulled me back to my original goal , and I redirected myself back to pre-med , in the face of a hiring freeze , to strengthen my resolve .
The “ toolkit ” I brought to medical school helped me immeasurably . I was happy to be among classmates who had made a mature decision to go to medical school . After all , our keynote lecture from Joe Allegra was , “ If you are here to make big bucks as a doctor , think again , and enroll in business school .” We started classes during the birth of HMOs and the death-knell of the idea of independent demi-god docs who were considered infallible . I already understood that humor and empathy were valuable in giving information that was too technical or painful to absorb . I also knew that small victories from persistence and cooperation were worth celebrating , because that might be all we , as individuals , could accomplish .
My training taught me that humility , the ability to listen , attention to detail , as well as technical skills were what made what I considered the “ best ” in medical practice , and I chose my mentors with these considerations in mind . Being part of a team meant everyone who came in contact with the patient and working as a functional unit made the most sense and had the best results . Obstetrics and gynecology gave me the most likely avenue to pursue my goals , as I had the most positive experiences in this area .
Intellectual curiosity was not status quo criticism , and might be extra work , but learning was the payoff . My undergraduate university ’ s motto , “ Meliora ” ( ever better ), was a great reference point . My internal medicine year before I completed my OB / Gyn residency gave me many opportunities where extra reading was imperative to understanding the many “ non-routine ” diseases that our patients presented to us . The Socratic method of teaching was the best way to make us think rather than regurgitate , so my ignorance was a prompt to find answers . My residency helped me understand my part in a community , which was more than just doctors , but also the people we worked beside and the population we served .

Medicine has taught me that the status quo is not an end , silence is not “ golden ,” and even small efforts from committed individuals can bring positive results .

As a result of my age , gender and experience , my practice style was a bit incongruous to the prevailing mode of volume-driven ,
bring positive results .
testosterone-fueled , physician-centric practice models that I was introduced to after residency . Because I was a “ commodity ” ( one of a few women in my specialty ), I posted my results in better outcomes , if not higher income , and eventually found a home with other like-minded physicians ; I am proud still to call them colleagues .
My only regret is that I started in medicine so late that I would not be able to help the women whose babies I delivered experience the joy of the delivery of their grandchildren . My current professional life is in occasional administrative work , and volunteer mission activities ( both here and international ), and work with my specialty to make it “ ever better .”
Medicine has taught me that the status quo is not an end , silence is not “ golden ,” and even small efforts from committed individuals can
I hope my illustrious classmates have the same outlook . They are the examples and mentors for the future of medicine .
Dr . Rigby works as a consultant / contract medical examiner for Kentucky Retirement Systems , and also for ACOG ' s Safety Certification in Outpatient Excellence in Women ' s Health program .
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