On this episode of The Female Doc Show, I talked to Dr. Amber Miller, Dr. Melissa Eseltine Bass, and Dr. Linda Kalamkeryan, three women who are spectacular.  😊

We had such an amazing conversation about women in the workplace and especially about how incredible it can be when physicians and pharmacists collaborate together. ⁠

You’re going to learn so much about the pharmacy profession. This was an amazing episode and I’m so grateful to my colleagues for joining me! So let’s dive into the 3 big takeaways from this episode.

1. Mentorship Matters.

Mentorship between female colleagues is so unique and we really wanted to highlight how powerful it can be. Their situation is definitely special because not every facility has a Dr. Amber Miller and not every facility has a Dr. Melissa Eseltine Bass. I think they’re kind of an outlier. Their institution is much more progressive than other institutions. But that doesn’t mean that female mentorship isn’t possible and POWERFUL wherever you might be. 

Even in classrooms, it means so much when women realize the power of camaraderie between each other.

Sometimes part of mentorship extends to recognizing when you’re in position to take a small career sacrifice that ultimately creates more opportunities for female colleagues. A great mentor knows when they can adjust an opportunity to make a bigger impact. This thought process was a huge driving force behind creating The Female Doctor Formula and I’m so excited about how many women I’ve been able to reach by creating this amazing community. (if you want more info, you can click HERE)

I was personally sponsored by men almost exclusively in my critical care career, so I do believe that there are those allies that are definitely out there and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. But at the same time, I also wonder if there was a different dynamic. When there’s a sisterhood in place, even just statistically speaking, it can make an incredible difference and create more opportunities for women.

2. Pharmacists Are Doctors Too. Listen To Them.

It’s so important to remember that pharmacists are incredibly talented and do really amazing accessible work for the communities that they’re in. 

They are such an essential point of contact for patients, nevermind how hard they’ve worked to accomplish what they have. Their knowledge base is invaluable. Unfortunately, the distinct benefits of a sense of unity between pharmacists and physicians doesn’t always translate clearly!

Female pharmacists struggle with the same workplace dynamics as female physicians. There’s a boundless power to the realization that we are truly stronger together AND our patients benefit from physicians and pharmacists who are elevating each other in the workplace! How magical is that?

3. Do You. Because You’re Not Alone.

“Not every woman has to work. Not every woman has to stay at home. There shouldn’t be a war between working moms and stay-at-home moms. There shouldn’t be this. We should be a sisterhood because there’s enough outside stuff to make us feel small and make us feel bad.” -Dr.Amber Miller

There are SO many workplace dynamics that some men don’t even realize exist for their female colleagues. For example, many women are very aware that becoming emotional in the workplace could lead to their colleagues branding them as “hysterical” or interpreting them as an “emotional woman”.

Because there are so many different standards and stereotypes to take into account, women have to work a lot harder to maintain professionalism and keep their authority intact at work. But it’s so important to remember that you’re not alone in this!

I enthusiastically encourage my readers, listeners, and students to seek out positive relationships so that you’re able to thrive! Because you’re never alone! Seek out mentors or sponsors that understand you and that you can communicate with. 

If you want to become an MD or a DO, it’s so important to me that the young women out there know that doctors like myself, and like Dr. Amber Miller, Dr. Melissa Eseltine Bass, and Dr. Linda Kalamkeryan have your back out there!

Go out there and BE YOURSELF! Because we are all part of this sisterhood!