In this empowering episode of Sevo Sistas , the host is joined by Dr. Alopi Patel, a trailblazing anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist. Dr. Patel shares her inspiring journey into medicine, overcoming the challenges faced by women in the male-dominated fields of anesthesiology and pain medicine, and her experience building a strong social media presence to address pelvic pain and women's health issues.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Defining Expertise:
   • Understanding that expertise is relative term and begins even as a medical student or resident.
   • Encouragement for early-career professionals to share their knowledge and be part of the solution.
2. Dr. Patel’s Journey:
   • Inspired by her grandfather and a friend's father, Dr. Patel shares how she became interested in medicine and anesthesiology.
   • The unique challenges of being a woman in a field where only a third of anesthesiologists are women, and how that led her to specialize in pain medicine.
3. Challenges in Pain Medicine:
   • The male dominance in pain medicine, with only 18% of pain physicians being women.
   • The importance of addressing and treating pelvic pain, which is often misunderstood and stigmatized.
   • The unexpected discovery of a significant number of male pelvic pain patients.
4. Building a Social Media Presence:
   • The creation of the "Female Pain Docs" platform on TikTok and Instagram to provide accurate medical information and advocacy.
   • Navigating the challenges of maintaining a professional presence on social media while working for an academic institution.
   • Practical tips on staying within institutional guidelines and the importance of transparency and caution when using social media as a healthcare professional.
5. Navigating Social Media as a Physician:
   • Understanding the "Green, Yellow, Red" approach to posting content.
   • The importance of professionalism, considering the long-term impact of online content

Takeaways:

• Medical professionals at any stage of their career can be experts and should feel empowered to share their knowledge and address the issues they observe.
• Social media can be a powerful tool for educating the public, addressing misinformation, and advocating for underrepresented areas in medicine, but it must be used thoughtfully and within professional guidelines.

Links & Resources:

• Follow Dr. Alopi Patel on Twitter: @alopipatelmd
• Learn more about Women Innovators in Pain Management: https://www.wipmsoc.org/
• Check out the Female Pain Docs:  https://thefemalepaindocs.com/                     Podcast:  https://thefemalepaindocs.com/podcast-2/                                            Tiktok and Instagram:  thefemalepaindocs

Call to Action:
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Tune in next time for part two, where we continue our conversation with Dr. Patel, diving deeper into her strategies for managing work-life balance and her future goals in anesthesiology and pain medicine.

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