On March 31 at the Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus (WCHHC), Alameda Health System’s Internal Medicine Residency Program hosted a panel discussion that brought providers together for a candid conversation about the experiences, challenges and career journeys of women physicians.
“I was inspired by the incredible resilience and expertise of the women I work alongside every day,” said Samantha Garcia, chief resident in the Internal Medicine Residency Program. “We intentionally designed this panel to move beyond generalities and focus on the real-world complexities of navigating a medical career.”
Organized by Garcia and the Advocacy, Community and Engagement Committee, the event featured seven women providers representing both outpatient and inpatient care across multiple specialties, including Drs. Nisha Bhatia, Patricia Foo, Bhrett Lash, Venna Manjunath, Sunita Mistry, Indhu Subramanian and Davita Flattery.
Representing a range of career stages, speakers shared insights into the realities of practicing medicine as women, offering attendees a broad perspective across specialties and career paths.
The discussion centered on balance, boundaries and identity with speakers reflecting on the importance of letting go of perfectionism, setting limits to protect personal well-being and navigating professional growth alongside major life transitions such as marriage, motherhood and evolving personal identities.
They also shared practical strategies for building community, strengthening confidence and using one’s voice in spaces where women and underrepresented clinicians may sometimes feel like “the only.”
The conversation explored advocacy and leadership, including navigating moments when expertise is questioned, speaking with confidence in clinical and professional settings and advocating for growth, fair compensation and leadership opportunities.
“My hope was for attendees to leave with a sense of community and a practical roadmap for leadership and mentorship within our health care system,” shared Garcia