The Female Surgeons

Dr. Catherine A. Humphrey, an orthopaedic trauma surgeon, serves as the division chief at University of Rochester Medicine. As someone who has been a surgeon for nearly 20 years and involved in academics since the early 2000s, her perspective on resident training and medical policy provides valuable insights.

In this conversation, we dive into three core topics. At the outset, she share her mindset evolution as a teacher & mentor to her female residents. We then tackle the RVU system that hospital facilities use to measure physicians' value essentially, which ultimately is a factor in compensation determination. Where this gets sticky is how this could negatively effect a woman who is carving out time for the priority of family planning, maternity leave, and/or simply family attention. Finally, Dr. Humphrey allows herself to be vulnerable about a challenge she is currently facing physically. This challenge presented itself after years of pushing down the need to prioritize self-care for her cervical spine arthritis. Now, having undergone several invasive surgeries and currently undergoing physical therapy, she is hoping to recover well enough to one day be able to stand at the operating room table again.

This challenge presents a lesson for all of us surgeons: "There's no prize at the end of it if you end up permanently injured from your job."

If you want to take care of others, you have to take care of yourself with just as much dedication.

the importance of authenticity in leadership, and the complexities of the RVU compensation system in healthcare. The conversation explores the challenges faced by women in orthopedics, particularly regarding work-life balance, maternity leave, and the evolving landscape of the profession. It also delves into personal experiences with health issues and the importance of self-care and mental resilience in the medical field.

Takeaways:

• Authenticity enhances leadership effectiveness
• RVU system undervalues non-procedural work
• Physical health for yourself as a surgeon is a non-negotiable
• Self-advocacy: we don't even realize we have the voice to say "that doesn't work for me" & that we have other options [ be that instruments, schedules, contracts, etc. ]

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Catherine Ann Humphrey
• 01:04 Journey to Orthopedic Surgery
• 02:12 Choosing Trauma Surgery
• 06:04 The Role of Teaching in Medicine
• 09:02 Evolving Perspectives on Female Mentorship
• 12:00 Experiences of Women in Medicine
• 14:24 Authenticity in Leadership
• 18:16 Communication Styles in Mentorship
• 29:00 Understanding RVUs in Healthcare
• 36:13 Gender Disparities in RVU Generation
• 38:18 Navigating Work-Life Balance in Orthopedics
• 41:23 Maternity Leave and Policy Changes
• 47:34 Personal Health Challenges and Reflections
• 56:35 Lessons from Recovery and Resilience
• 01:17:20 Empowerment and Self-Advocacy in Medicine

Instagram Follows:

• The Female Surgeons
• Dr. Paige Moorhead
• University of Rochester Medicine

The conversation explores the exceptionalism of women in high-performance careers, the transformative impact of Title IX on women's sports, and the parallels between sports and surgical careers. It also delves into the importance of teamwork, leadership, and communication in both fields. The conversation covers the history and evolution of women's soccer, the challenges faced by women athletes, the importance of mentorship, and the impact of teamwork and collaboration. It also emphasizes the significance of paying opportunities forward and being a coach and teammate to others.

Dr. Elizabeth Joneschild, native to Seattle, was among the first generation of girls who got to experience playing sports as a 'normalized' activity. Dr. EJ had her eye on a surgical career as early as 3rd grade.

Educational path:

• Stanford University, Bachelor of Science
• Duke University Medical School MD
• Duke University Medical Center, Orthopaedic Residency
• Hospital for Special Surgery, NY, Fellowship in Hand Surgery
• AO Hand Trauma Fellowship, Bern, Switzerland

Entering into her orthopedic residency at Duke University, along with another female co-resident, they were only the 9th and 10th females to enter into the school's program.

Playing soccer from an early age, Dr. EJ progressed into Division I soccer while at Stanford. Along the journey of her soccer career, she met, befriended, played with and against, many of the iconic U.S. women's national team (USWNT) players that put the team finally 'on the map' in the mid-to-late 90s for women's sports. Being a part of high-performance collaboration and team work during these formidable years was paramount in sculpting the mindset for a career in surgery.

Takeaways

• Exceptionalism of women in high-performance careers
• Transformative impact of Title IX on women's sports
• Women's soccer has a rich history and has faced significant challenges in gaining recognition and support - drawing parallels to the challenges faced by women entering surgical careers
• Mentorship, teamwork, and collaboration are essential for the success and advancement of women in sports and surgical fields

Chapters

• 00:00 Exceptionalism of Women in High-Performance Careers
• 03:19 The Transformative Impact of Title IX on Women's Sports
• 19:36 Parallels Between Women in Sports and Surgical Careers
• 31:47 The History of Women's Soccer
• 32:25 Challenges Faced by Women Athletes
• 35:35 The Evolution of Women's Sports
• 39:47 The Power of Mentorship and Teamwork
• 54:28 Paying Opportunities Forward

Learn more about Dr. Elizabeth Joneschild:

• The Team Behind Every Dream: Talk Dr. Joneschild gave at Duke University on April 22, 2026
• Seattle Hand Surgery Group

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Dr. Akanksha Srivastava, BDS, MSc, MDSc, FACP, FRCD(C), FAAMP is a maxillofacial prosthodontist and implantologist at the Craniofacial Center at UI Health. Dr. Srivastava focuses on providing care to children and adults with reconstructive needs, including cleft lip and palate, head and neck cancer, craniofacial trauma, and other acquired orofacial conditions. She specializes in craniofacial implant and prosthetic rehabilitation and also provides care to patients with advanced oral rehabilitation needs, including full-mouth rehabilitations, implant-supported "fixed teeth in a day," and zygomatic and pterygoid implants.

Dr. Srivastava's foundation growing up in the structure of India's education system, coupled with the influence of a pediatric dentist in her mother and an OMFS in her father, curated in her at an early age the ability to command respect in a room and the confidence to lead in realms not heavily populated by women.

In this heart-felt interview, she shares her journey from India to Canada and the United States, highlighting the impact of gender divide differences between each country.

The conversation delves into the delicate challenge of balancing between assertiveness and warmth in patient interactions, women feeling 'external' to distinguished roles until we prove ourselves instead of believing we belong as we are, the strength of a woman's intuition, early career choices women face, and how women are judged based on personality traits.

It also explores the concept of breaking glass ceilings and the importance of belonging and having a close community of friendships with colleagues who can understand your day to day nuance realities. These relationships are key to our own mental well-being.

Takeaways:

• Gender divides and societal expectations impact early career choices and even contract negotiation strategies.
• Intentional sequencing of your personal and career path steps is a valuable tool for a maintaining a healthy life trajectory.
• Balancing assertiveness and warmth is essential in healthcare, and detachment from judgments is key to maintaining empathy.
• The crisis of empathy in healthcare is influenced by societal perceptions and emotional burdens.
• Belonging, mentorship, and a supportive community are crucial for personal and professional well-being.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Akanksha Srivastava
• 02:52 Early Upbringing and Educational Trajectory
• 05:52 Gender Divides and Egalitarianism in Education
• 07:21 Challenges and Nuances of Gender Biases
• 29:19 Negotiation Challenges and Assertiveness
• 41:48 The Crisis of Empathy in Healthcare
• 44:25 Navigating Professional Demands
• 45:49 Balancing Assertiveness and Authenticity
• 46:19 Career and Family Planning
• 48:28 Relational Intelligence in Patient Care
• 51:28 Self-Care and Burnout Prevention
• 55:58 Breaking Glass Ceilings and Belonging
• 01:13:14 The Power of Mentorship and Community

Follow & Connect with Dr. Akanksha Srivastava on Instagram!

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Dr. Lindsey Pennington, a facial plastic surgeon specializing in deep plane facelifts, shares how her journey inspired a personal value to lead by example.

Her story highlights the importance of female camaraderie in surgical fields, as well as the tenacity and fortitude it often takes to excel when faced with gender-based perceptions, navigating pregnancy & motherhood, and taking on business ownership.

Dr. Pennington shares insights on the emotional and logistical challenges of being a working mom and the importance of finding a supportive community of female surgeons. She also discusses the identity shift from being a surgeon to being a parent and the need for self-compassion and balance in both roles. Additionally, she emphasizes the significance of believing in oneself and finding a career path that aligns with one's passion and identity.

Dr. Pennington also reflects on the growth of her practice and the impact of female leadership in the field of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Takeaways

• Female camaraderie is crucial in the field of surgery
• The journey of a female surgeon involves overcoming isolation and seeking support from like-minded individuals
• Supportive female communities are essential for working moms in surgical careers
• Believing in oneself and finding a career path that aligns with your passion and identity are crucial for success in surgery

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey to Specialization
• 02:28 The Range of Surgeries
• 04:34 The Challenges of Being a Female Surgeon
• 06:08 Building a Practice and Seeking Camaraderie
• 32:57 The Impact of Female Leadership
• 34:18 Balancing Career and Motherhood
• 35:25 The Identity Shift
• 36:23 The Challenges of Being a Surgeon and a Parent
• 51:04 The Journey to Success in Surgery
• 01:01:05 Believing in Oneself and Finding Passion

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Connect with Dr. Lindsey Pennington:

• Instagram: @penningtonfacialplastics
• Website: penningtonfacialplastics.com
• Shreveport, LA

Connect with Dr. Paige Moorhead and The Female Surgeons:

• @dr_paige_dds
• @the_female_surgeons

  
  

Dr. Alisha Starbird is not new to oral surgery procedures, but she is new to this branch of surgery: full arch - otherwise known to us as, All-on-X.

While still at the onset of her full-time surgery career, this episode was timely in order to capture the realities of what it's like at the early stages of a surgical career.

This conversation with Dr. Starbird highlights the transition into a career of full-time surgery, both expected and unexpected challenges, and the emotional connection with this level of patient care.

We cover her personal and professional journey as a female surgeon, and the paramount importance of mentorship for anyone early on in their surgical career.

This episode will not be the last with Dr. Starbird. As she matures into her surgical role over time, touch points with her along the journey are planned so as to serve as an example of the organic growth of any surgeon as they gain experience, and with that, unlock next level confidence. With experience, it's amazing how much around you can feel slower. In reality the orbit remains the same pace, we as surgeons and leaders have actually risen to higher abilities.

Takeaways

• Any surgeon at the beginning of their real-world surgical career will face expected and unexpected challenges. At the onset, everything feels new and overwhelming, we're uncertain about our decision making, and our lack of outcomes to follow can lead to restless nights and anxiety surfacing.
• Female surgeons face unique challenges in balancing their professional and personal lives.
• The mental and emotional aspects of surgery, including patient care and outcomes, have a significant impact on the well-being of surgeons. [ Quality of life impact ]
• Emotional and professional challenges
• Importance of mentorship and leadership
• Self-care and physical health

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Connection
• 00:29 The Journey to Surgery
• 02:49 Early Exposure to Surgery
• 05:40 Challenges and Decision-Making
• 06:36 The Demands of Surgery
• 33:24 Managing Stress and Patient Care
• 38:15 Impact on Quality of Life
• 39:43 Emotional and Professional Challenges
• 43:08 Experiences of Female Surgeons
• 50:48 Mentorship and Leadership
• 59:14 Self-Care and Physical Health
  

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Dr. Sinehan Bayrak is a cosmetic facial plastic surgeon specializing in deep plane facelift, rhinoplasty, brow lift, and eyelid surgery.

A focus of this episode is considering the advantages of being a female surgeon. Advantages circle around a female's emotional awareness & intelligence when it comes to communication with patients and teams.

The conversation delves into the challenges of setting and managing patient expectations in the field of plastic surgery, followed by the emotional toll on providers who are shouldering the dynamic sentiments that come with the territory of altering such a sensitive area of the body - the face.

Dr. Bayrak passionately emphasizes the importance of authenticity and individuality in professional practice, especially for women in historically male-dominated fields.

Takeaways

• Emotional intelligence in patient care
• Advantages of being a female surgeon
• Patient expectations are a critical aspect of plastic surgery, and managing them requires careful consideration and communication.
• The emotional impact of patient care and the need for self-care and resilience are significant challenges for medical providers, especially in fields with high emotional stakes tied to outcome/result expectations.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Sinehan Bayrak
• 03:54 The Impact of Appearance on Quality of Life
• 07:15 Advantages of Being a Woman in Surgery
• 19:49 Gender Unawareness in Medical Training
• 32:34 Patient Communication and Emotional Intelligence
• 40:19 Setting Patient Expectations and Emotional Toll
• 41:59 Gender Dynamics and Emotional Resilience in Medicine
• 43:08 Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Expectation Management
• 45:28 The 80% Rule and Surgical Success
• 46:25 Gender Differences in Emotional Resilience
• 48:07 Managing Emotional Impact and Resilience
• 51:38 Gender Dynamics and Professional Authenticity
• 01:08:48 Empowerment and Individuality in Professional Practice

Connect with Dr. Sinehan Bayrak:

• Instagram: @dr.bayrak
• Website: www.bayrakmd.com
• Philadelphia, PA

Connect with The Female Surgeons & Dr. Paige Moorhead:

• @dr_paige_dds
• @the_female_surgeons

Dr. Paige Moorhead sits down for a conversation with Dr. Adam Hogan, host of the All In All On X Podcast, to have a candid conversation about gender bias, societal expectations, and family considerations on female surgeons.

Dr. Paige delves into her journey as a female implant surgeon, her experiences in the field, and the challenges she has faced. Amongst the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of female representation in the field and the need for mentorship and support for aspiring female surgeons. The conversation delves into the experiences of female surgeons and the challenges they face in a male-dominated field. It explores the impact of gender on leadership, mentorship, and imposter syndrome in surgical professions.

This was an opportunity, in having a male guest on the show, to ask perspective questions from a male who's been around female surgeons in aspects of training, mentorship, colleagues, and co-educator formats. The goal of this is to bring awareness to male colleagues as they begin to see more females on the surgical circuits. Awareness is the key first step to change.

Takeaways

• Gender bias and societal expectations impact the experiences of female surgeons.
• Female representation and mentorship are crucial for aspiring female surgeons. Gender bias in the medical field
• Imposter syndrome and its impact on female surgeons

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey to Implant Dentistry
• 04:11 Becoming a Female Implant Surgeon
• 06:10 Challenges and Experiences
• 07:09 Impact of Gender Bias
• 10:36 Role Models and Aspirations
• 43:40 Family Considerations
• 48:25 Female Representation and Mentorship
• 53:55 Gender Bias in Surgery
• 56:23 Leadership and Mentorship Challenges
• 01:29:30 Imposter Syndrome in Surgery

If you are a full arch surgeon, follow: @allinallonxpod

Check out The Female Surgeons visual content: @the_female_surgeons

Follow Dr. Paige: @dr_paige_dds

The conversation delves into the emotional toll experienced by surgeons via the stress of making sure everyone around us feels safe at all times, especially patients. We have to hold ourselves together to provide empathy to our patients pending a life-changing surgery, even when behind the curtain, the day's schedule and staff support have fallen apart and our to-do list is growing relentlessly.

As surgeons, experiencing this over the course of our career results in us developing essentially a defense mechanism against ourselves with supressing our own human needs and emotions in effort to ensure our patients and staff feel safe. The flip side of this is we suffer in silence, all while the emotional toll builds in the shadow of that suppression.

This episode delves into normalization of the emotional toll in the healthcare profession. It highlights the challenges faced by surgeons, the impact of emotional suppression, and the need for recuperation and recovery. Additionally, for non-healthcare workers, it emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging the emotional toll experienced by healthcare workers, as well as the resilience and fortitude required to navigate these challenges.

This emotional suppression can result in misconceptions with how patients even perceive their surgeon. Take a listen behind the curtain to see the truth!

Takeaways

• Emotional Toll on Surgeons
• Normalization of the Emotional Toll

Chapters

• Staffing Challenge Story
• Emotional Toll of High Stress Days
• Emotional Burden on Healthcare Workers
• Emotional Resilience
• Reality of Patient Care Under Pressure
• Behind the Curtain
• Normalizing Emotional Challenges
• Surgeon-Patient Dynamics

Podcast Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/the_female_surgeons?utm_source=qr

Dr. Paige Moorhead shares her recent vacation experiences, correlating this to the impact of stress on women, and the importance of managing stress through lifestyle choices and healthy distractions. She emphasizes the power of quiet and the parasympathetic state in navigating stress and responsibility.

Takeaways

• Research insights: gender differences in stress
• Understanding the impact of stress on women
• The power of quiet and the parasympathetic state in stress management
• Two types of quiet

Chapters

• 00:00 Vacation Adventures
• 11:08 Gender Differences in Stress Response
• 21:26 The Impact of Stress on Women
• 32:32 Internalizing Stress and Healthy Distractions
• 40:23 Embodying the Quiet State
• 46:39 Navigating Stress and Responsibility
• 56:35 The Privilege of Responsibility

Research Links:

1. Stress by Gender - American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2012/gender-report.pdf
2. Men and Women Experience Stress Differently - Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-of-self/202403/men-and-women-experience-stress-differently/amp
3. UF scientists find key differences in male, female responses to stress - University of Florida College of Pharmacy: https://ufhealth.org/news/2025/uf-scientists-find-key-differences-in-male-female-responses-to-stress

Podcast Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/the_female_surgeons?utm_source=qr

Interested in being a guest?

[email protected]

Dr. Elizabeth (Ellie) Kraft, an ocoplastic surgeon, shares her journey into this unique surgical field that has revolutionized the treatment of breast cancer. After explaining the history of oncoplastic surgery, she discusses her experience becoming a surgeon as a female, the frequency of breast cancer diagnosis, and the importance of early detection. Additionally, Dr. Kraft emphasizes the significance of maintaining mental and physical health as a surgeon, highlighting the challenges and strategies for self-care in a demanding profession. The discussion then dives into patient perceptions and assumptions when females introduce themselves as their surgeon, followed by how Dr. Kraft plans to leave a footprint during her professional career.

Takeaways

• Oncoplastic surgery: A revolutionary approach to breast cancer surgery
• The importance of mental and physical health for surgeons
• Gender bias experience entering into a surgical field
• Challenges faced by female surgeons

Chapters

• Oncoplastic Surgery Revolution
• The Impact of Gender in Surgery
• Breast Cancer Awareness, Statistics, & Screening
• Maintaining Mental & Physical Health as a Surgeon
• Bouncing Back from Complications
• Experiences of Bias in Surgical Fields
• Patient Perceptions
• Future Aspirations and Impact
• Reflection on Childhood Dreams

Follow Dr. Ellie Kraft:

• @drelliekraft
• www.drelliekraft.com

Connect with The Female Surgeons:

• @the_female_surgeons

Follow Dr. Paige Moorhead:

• @dr_paige_dds