Breaking Barriers: Women in Heart Surgery Share Their Stories

In the world of heart and lung surgery, women are a rare sight. Only a small group of them make up less than 10% of surgeons in this field. But a gathering called Women in Thoracic Surgery is changing that. It's a place where these women can share their experiences and support each other. At one of these meetings, Dr. Marianna Papageorge, a young surgeon, asked a big question. She wanted to know how to deal with self-doubt, especially when things go wrong in high-risk surgeries. Dr. Alexandra Kharazi, another heart surgeon, had a simple answer. She said that every surgeon faces challenges. The key is to focus on the successes, not the setbacks. Dr. Kharazi shared her own story. She once told a male surgeon she wanted to operate at his hospital. He advised against it, saying it's not a good idea to go where you're not invited. But Dr. Kharazi didn't listen. She believed in going where she wasn't welcome. And that's how she built her career. The meeting was a chance for these women to talk about their struggles and triumphs. They discussed how to handle self-doubt, deal with challenges, and push forward in a male-dominated field. It's a tough journey, but they're making progress.