Genevieve Bennett, M.D. (Section Chief, Women’s Imaging)
“I would have to say that my biggest inspiration in my professional life was my mother, who was a physician as well as the mother of 5 children (2 of whom are physicians). In all aspects of my life, my mother always reinforced within me the feeling that there wasn’t any goal I couldn’t achieve, if it was important enough to me. My father, also a physician, as well as multiple other family members, have also been a constant source of encouragement and support.
I was also very fortunate that during my training as a radiology resident at MGH, I interacted with many women leaders in Radiology, such as Theresa McLoud and Beryl Benacerraf, who were so highly respected and demonstrated to me that women clearly have a very important role to play in our specialty. They also enjoyed their work, which I think is very important for success, and served as excellent role models for me.”
Hildegard Toth, M.D. (Section Chief, Breast Imaging)
First and foremost, the greatest two influences in my life are my mother and father. Each one independently emigrated from Europe to Canada in the 1950s (both already in their 30's). Armed with courage, their education and culture, and their desire to work hard, they both became successful, happy individuals.
Particularly my mother, as I got older, interested me as an original “feminist.” She was a single woman working in an era (early 1950's) when this idea was not really common. She left her home, worked as a private tutor in Montreal, and traveled. Well-meaning friends said this was the sure road to becoming a spinster! Not bowing to social pressures, after two dates and co-habiting, she married my father at the age of 36. She did quit working outside the home at this point, and I came along 11/2 years later as the only child. My home environment was loving, stable and safe.
I always felt extremely capable and thought very little about the expected norms. Just like my parents, I was brought up to be self-reliant and to do your own thing. Twelve years of an all-girls private school fostered self-confidence that only now I have really come to fully appreciate. Almost all our teachers were college-educated women. We played sports on our own fields, had our own coaches, and governed ourselves. We had our own theater and invited the boys to our dances, and wherever you fit in was great, no judgments, period.
I am deeply grateful to my father for allowing me to matriculate at the University of Pennsylvania (overruling the strongly advised small single-sex colleges). He was enlightened to the woman’s movement of the time and believed that his daughter’s future was best served at a large and diverse university.
Medical school (circa 1979) was a real eye-opener. The “girls” constituted about 10% of the class with virtually no female professors in sight. Only Dr. Wiedeman, who was studying the capillary circulation in bat-wings, made the occasional appearance out of the Kentucky “caves”, literally and figuratively. PS – She died of histoplasmosis. At least in college there were plenty of woman and at least a few female professors. We were often accused of “wasting a man’s spot” or we were simply there to marry a doctor (there are easier ways, I would tell them). I made sure to do as well as the next guy (better – AOA) and on a lark ran for Class President. I won. This, I think, pleased Dean Allen Meyers, who definitely supported the women in my class as best as he could.
Radiology became my choice and Dr. Mary Fisher was my reason. She was elegant, beautiful, and very smart. She simply flipped up the CXR, told the patient’s story and was always certain of the diagnosis. How did she do that? What did she see and know that the others did not? I wanted to do this too. She still has no idea of the influence she had on my career choice.
I arrived in 1984 and found great people (in Radiology at NYU). In particular, Dr. Nancy Genieser, also educated in Philadelphia, seemed to “have it all.” She possesses quiet authority, is brilliant, ran the Peds section (and now so much more), manages always to be kind, and has a husband and two kids. After knowing her for 20 years, I still learn so much from her, and it’s not about the radiology. Dr. Emil Balthazar came back from the RSNA in 1987, summoned me into his office at BH, and was sure this new and upcoming thing the Europeans were doing—mammography—would be really big!”
Georgeann McGuinness, M.D. (Vice Chair of Education)
“Honestly, I am inspired and impressed by people who show great leadership, regardless of gender. I observe them closely, trying to glean from their technique and approach skills which will help me. Of course, when I see a woman in a high level position I relate on a more personal level. I try to discern how she navigated some of the hurdles that I am facing, especially as they relate to gender. Sometimes a very close look will make you feel better about yourself.
For instance, in a somewhat glib example, I view Ruth Bader Ginsberg as a model of astonishing achievement and accomplishment, an advocate for women’s rights, and an esteemed Supreme Court Justice. Plus, she seems to have a typical life, with a successful marriage and happy well adjusted kids. Then I read an interview with one of her sons who said she was a great mother, and was always there when he needed her. But he went on to say that if he got up in the middle of the night for a drink of water she was always at her desk at 3 am, working away. This knowledge somehow made me feel better about my own comparatively modest achievements. The trick is to figure out your priorities, accept that you may never be a Supreme Court Judge, or the radiologic equivalent, if you like to sleep at 3 AM, and be happy with that decision.
On a more personal level my father, a physician, is undoubtedly the reason I am a doctor today (although he admits he was initially appalled that I became a radiologist and not a ‘real doctor’). I daily (or almost daily—he was a hard working OB-Gyn) observed a man who loved his job and derived great happiness and satisfaction from his career. Despite his exhausting schedule he got me thinking about medicine...”
Elissa Kramer, M.D. (Section Chief, Nuclear Medicine)
“One major factor in anyone’s success is mentoring. That takes a variety of forms throughout one’s life. For me it was the expectations from my parents that I had the potential, that I should do something productive with that potential, and that, no matter what, I give something back to my world. Growing up in the 50’s and early 60’s meant that this often was a mixed message. Donna Reed and Cherry Ames were the main role models available. But even though they were very much constrained by anti-feminist values, they were assertive, energetic and, in the end, self-directed.
Those subliminal messages and the advent of the women’s movement in the early 70’s pushed me to pursue a profession. I am sure I benefited from affirmative action. There were very few women role models for me. My mother had been a homemaker during my growing up. The hard thing for me was navigating a path between raising children and giving work my best effort. The younger of my professors and attendings had more to say about how to negotiate this. I envy the younger women today who feel that they do not have to “do it all” all of the time.
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