Melinda Butsch Kovacic, MPH, PhD; Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD; Sandra L. Starnes, MD; and Susan E. Waltz, PhD, discuss the advice they would give to their younger selves and future female oncology professionals, knowing what they know now about the oncology field and their own career growth.

Kovacic is a professor and the associate dean of Research at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Shaughnessy is an adjunct professor and the vice chair for Patient Experience at the University of Cincinnati Health. Starnes is a professor and the chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and the Dr. John B. Flege, Jr. Chair of surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Waltz is a professor of cancer biology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

In this episode, Kovacic, Shaughnessy, Starnes, and Waltz share how staying true to oneself and pursuing genuine passions and interests amid much direction from others can help new oncology professionals succeed in their own unique way, instead of only fulfilling the expectations of others. They advise young professionals against underestimating their abilities or comparing themselves to their colleagues, as everyone is on a unique career path. They remind their audience that the effort they give on the job makes them just as deserving of consideration for promotions and career advances as those they work alongside.

However, the 4 experts also express the drawbacks of overburdening oneself and note how easily young doctors can become overwhelmed by the various opportunities they agree to. To combat burnout, they note the importance of carefully choosing career opportunities and aiming for quality over quantity.

Additionally, they emphasize that advocating for oneself to receive access to necessary experiences is critical and that speaking up for oneself and other colleagues takes practice and confidence but becomes easier over time. Kovacic, Shaughnessy, Starnes, and Waltz conclude by acknowledging that the achievements of women in medicine help and inspire everyone in the field, especially professionals in other underrepresented groups. 

Videos

Women in Oncology: Self-Advocacy in a Busy Field

Melinda Butsch Kovacic, MPH, PhD; Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD; Sandra L. Starnes, MD; and Susan E. Waltz, PhD, discuss challenges they faced throughout their early careers, such as pay discrepancies and double standards, and how some of those challenges continue to affect the professional lives of female physicians.

In this episode, Kovacic, Shaughnessy, Starnes, and Waltz share moments during their careers when they realized factors of their workplace policies or cultures that were stunting their salaries and career paths and explain the routes they took to advocate for themselves in these situations. The 4 experts express their appreciation for the times when they were able to ask for the pay they deserved and decrease the salary gaps that existed between them and their male colleagues, while noting the difficulties of salary negotiations and their struggles to find the confidence for continued discussions regarding their earnings. They also describe their gratitude for the resources and educational opportunities that are available today to help people with negotiation skills, which give women more tools they can use to address workplace issues.

Kovacic, Shaughnessy, Starnes, and Waltz also emphasize the challenges they have faced in a field where they are often judged against standards typically expected of men. They acknowledge that they have often felt the need to prove themselves throughout their careers to earn the respect and opportunities that many of their male colleagues have. However, they acknowledge that many of their successes as physicians and leaders stem from their willingness to work diligently and put in the effort to improve themselves despite these inequities.

Melinda Butsch Kovacic, MPH, PhD; Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD; Sandra L. Starnes, MD; and Susan E. Waltz, PhD, discuss challenges they faced throughout their early careers and how some of those challenges continue to affect the professional lives of female physicians.

Women in Oncology: Career Challenges Turned Growth Opportunities

Melinda Butsch Kovacic, MPH, PhD; Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD; Sandra L. Starnes, MD; and Susan E. Waltz, PhD, discuss the differences that can arise between the mentorship strategies of men and women and the importance of finding mentors that help with individual career growth and personal goal accomplishment, regardless of their gender.

Kovacic is a professor and the associate dean of Research at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Shaughnessy is an adjunct professor and the vice chair for Patient Experience at the University of Cincinnati Health. Starnes is a professor of clinical, the chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and the Dr. John B. Flege, Jr. Chair of surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Waltz is a professor of cancer biology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

In this episode, Kovacic, Shaughnessy, Starnes, and Waltz explain the differences they have noticed between male and female mentors, such as the directive tendency of male mentors vs the tendency for female mentors to learn their mentees’ individual goals and holistically consider their personal needs and pressures to best help them succeed. The 4 experts note that differences have lessened over time, however, with the advent of resources that provide mentorship guidelines and expectations, as well as more formalized mentorship policies at many institutions.

They also emphasize the crucial nature of mentorship roles that grow into sponsorship opportunities. They mention that earlier in their careers, many of the male mentors they knew were less likely than female mentors to sponsor mentees by suggesting career growth opportunities and helping them advance to higher positions. Now, however, more male mentors are willing to sponsor their mentees, although they note that mentees with male mentors often need to be proactive and ask for their sponsorship.

Additionally, Kovacic, Shaughnessy, Starnes, and Waltz discuss their appreciation of the different mentors, both male and female, who they have had throughout their careers and the benefits of having several mentors, as each mentor has unique strengths, weaknesses, and leadership styles that all contribute to varied, yet valuable, career insights.

Melinda Butsch Kovacic, MPH, PhD; Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD; Sandra L. Starnes, MD; and Susan E. Waltz, PhD, discuss the differences that can arise between the mentorship strategies of men and women and the importance of finding mentors that help with individual career growth and personal goal accomplishment.

Women in Oncology: The Evolution of Active Mentorship

Melinda Butsch Kovacic, MPH, PhD; Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD; Sandra L. Starnes, MD; and Susan E. Waltz, PhD, discuss their early career experiences as women in the oncology field.

Kovacic is a professor and the associate dean of Research at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Shaughnessy is an adjunct professor and the vice chair for Patient Experience at the University of Cincinnati Health. Starnes is a professor, the chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and the Dr. John B. Flege, Jr. Chair of surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Waltz is a professor of cancer biology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

In this episode, Kovacic, Shaughnessy, Starnes, and Waltz share the highlights and challenges of their early careers and the ways in which the culture of oncology has changed over the years to better include and accommodate female researchers and physicians. They note the realities of working in a predominantly male-dominated field, including often being some of the only women in the room, and remark on the small number of female role models at their institutions when they began their careers. They explain how the absence of maternity leave and discouragement from taking time off from work disproportionately affected themselves and other female colleagues who wanted to have children, and the ways in which they navigated other personal priorities while beginning their careers.

However, the 4 experts underscore the personal importance of establishing strong bonds with their female colleagues and the professional value of using this camaraderie to shift their institutions’ cultures to better appreciate female perspectives. They also emphasize their many supportive experiences with male mentors and colleagues that shaped their career growth. Overall, Kovacic, Shaughnessy, Starnes, and Waltz reveal how the difficulties they faced helped them create spaces where they could voice their needs and opinions to positively influence their professional and personal lives.

Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD

Articles

Women in Oncology: Self-Advocacy in a Busy Field

Women in Oncology: Career Challenges Turned Growth Opportunities

Women in Oncology: The Evolution of Active Mentorship

Women in Oncology: Early Career Growth and Institutional Change