Being a doctor today means living between two worlds. Between the world of medicine—full of science, facts, diagnoses, and responsibility—and the world of people, their emotions, fears, expectations, and often frustration.
We must be not only experts, but also data analysts, psychologists, communicators, and often time managers. Technology, electronic health records, and new diagnostic procedures make our work more efficient, but at the same time increase the pressure to make accurate and quick decisions. Being a doctor today means learning to work with uncertainty. It means admitting that not everything is in our hands, even if we give our best at work—and despite this realization, actually giving our best.
When I decided to become a doctor, I knew that a difficult journey awaited me. However, I had no idea to what extent medicine would become part of my identity and the way I think, communicate with people, and perceive the world.
Along the way, I met many inspiring women, but also men who saw women as equal partners and tried to create opportunities and conditions for their further growth. I don't know if I was just a little luckier on my journey, but I still feel enormous gratitude.
Challenges that are rarely discussed
Modern medicine may be technologically advanced, but it remains challenging on a human level. There are several challenges that are rarely discussed. I consider the following to be the most pressing.
Constant pressure to perform
Female doctors often face the expectation (and sometimes create the pressure themselves) that they must be perfect—both at work and at home. Combining a career and family is still a social challenge that women bear more often than men.
The "I'm a woman – I have to prove I can do more" syndrome
Many of us feel that we have to be better, work harder, work longer, and multitask in order to be perceived as equal. Not because we are less capable, but because stereotypes still exist.
Emotional burden
Empathy is a gift, but often also a burden. Every patient whose story we carry home in our heads is a silent reminder that medicine is not just a science, but also a human story that can touch us deeply.
Balance between work and personal life
We often balance between demanding work, family, and our own needs. Society has moved on, but the pressure to perform remains high. Many women in medicine deal with the issue of motherhood, career growth, and at the same time, the effort not to lose themselves. During their role as mothers, their time is temporarily limited. The rigidity of some systems, the lack of outside help, and a lack of understanding of this period do not make the situation any easier.
Burnout is not a myth. It is a reality that is beginning to be discussed more openly. Mental resilience is just as important today as professional preparedness.
Men vs. women
In medicine, male and female doctors should have equal opportunities, but not necessarily equal conditions. It is difficult to expect female doctors who are mothers to benefit from identical working conditions as their male colleagues. Men and women differ not only physically but also mentally, and we should not ignore these differences but perceive them as potential.
The goal should not be uniformity, but complementarity—a state in which we complement each other. Women often excel in empathy and communication, while men tend to have a systematic approach. There are more differences like these, and it would be a shame not to use them for the benefit of joint, effective, and humanly balanced cooperation.
The joys that balance it out
Despite all the challenges, medicine is beautiful. Knowing that people entrust you with the most precious things they have—their health and trust—is deeply binding and fulfilling at the same time. The look in a patient's eyes, words of gratitude, or a firm handshake from someone we have helped or saved can, in a single moment, give meaning to even the most difficult days.
The realization that our work has a real and often profound impact on the lives of others brings humility and the strength to continue. There are not many professions in which you have the opportunity to change someone's life every day.
Let's take advantage of this unique opportunity and try not to forget it even in times of rush, paperwork, and exhaustion. It is precisely in these moments that it makes sense to remind ourselves why we chose this path.
Are women better doctors? Science suggests they may be
This is not about competition between the sexes, but about understanding different approaches to patient care. Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine pointed out that patients treated by female doctors had lower 30-day mortality and fewer rehospitalizations compared to patients treated by male doctors. Other studies suggest that female doctors are more likely to follow clinical recommendations, spend more time communicating, take a patient-centered approach, and place greater emphasis on preventive care. More recent research also confirms that female patients in particular have lower mortality rates when treated by female doctors.
These differences are likely related to higher levels of empathy, better communication, and an emphasis on a partnership with the patient. However, it is important to realize that it is not a question of who is "better," but rather that diversity in medicine contributes to better healthcare for everyone.
Women bring empathy and sensitivity, the ability to think in a multidisciplinary way, an emphasis on prevention, and more effective communication with patients to healthcare. And above all, humanity.
Mothers – doctors
Being a mother and a doctor at the same time has several dimensions. On the one hand, there is a love of medicine, a desire to grow, learn, and help others; on the other hand, there are feelings of remorse and guilt that mothers are not sufficiently present at home or at work, fatigue, sleep deprivation, minimal space for regeneration, mental and physical stress, loss of professional self-confidence, rigidity of the system in terms of working hours, and the feeling that they have to choose between career growth and family.
However, I am convinced that mothers who are doctors bring a unique perspective to medicine. Motherhood often deepens empathy, patience, the ability to communicate, and the ability to perceive patients in the broader context of their lives. The experience of caring for one's own child strengthens sensitivity to the vulnerability of others and the ability to make decisions with regard to long-term consequences.
The key to improving the situation is support from workplaces, more flexible working conditions, accessible childcare, and a culture of understanding that does not perceive motherhood as an obstacle but as a natural part of a female doctor's life. Society and the healthcare system can only benefit from allowing women to remain in medicine without having to sacrifice one of their life roles.
Being a mother and a doctor at the same time is not a weakness or a compromise. It is proof of strength and a deep commitment to life – both one's own and that of others. Motherhood can be the greatest conscience. If anyone can manage time effectively, it is mothers.
A message for women in medicine
Perhaps you are just tired. Perhaps you doubt whether what you are doing is really right for you. Perhaps you feel that you will never be where your male colleagues are. Perhaps you feel that you have to manage everything on your own. Everything you are going through is completely normal and, above all, human. All of this makes us more sensitive doctors, for whom occasional doubt is a driving force.
Your empathy is not a weakness. Your sensitivity is not an obstacle. Your femininity is not a limitation. It is your strength.
Surround yourself with colleagues who will not let you stand still, but will constantly push you forward, outside your comfort zone. Who will lead you to believe in yourself. Who will inspire you to fulfill your dreams and not give up. Who will laugh even on the hardest day. But above all, look for colleagues who will not show you their superpowers, but will show you what superpowers you have.
150 years ago, women couldn't study medicine, and today they stand at operating tables, run clinics, and change the face of healthcare. Not because they fought against men, but because they fought for their place at the table. And perhaps that is why women in medicine are changing not only healthcare, but also the way we treat patients.
You can achieve everything you have ever dreamed of. (And even more)
Together with Dr. Diana Končošovská, we wish all women a wonderful and inspiring International Women's Day.
