International Women’s Day: Advocacy and Mentorship Remain Vital in Oncology

In March 1911, the first International Women's Day was held, and now, more than a century later, the celebration is comprised of a collection of global activists united in the continued effort to highlight equality for women across various spaces, including women in medicine.

Advocacy for gender equality through mentorship and supportive networks is vital for women in oncology, according to Suzanne B. Coopey, MD, who adds that institutions need to continue to support women's roles in the field and address remaining barriers.

“I feel like women in oncology shouldn't have barriers. It's 2024, and there are a lot of women in medicine, a lot of women in oncology, and women in breast surgery. We should have the same access that our male counterparts do,” Coopey said.

In an interview with OncLive^®, Coopey, a breast surgeon at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) in Wexford, Pennsylvania, reflected on her experiences in the oncology field as a woman, highlighted initial challenges that she experienced during her residency, and expanded on the support found when working with other women in the field. Additionally, Coopey emphasized the importance of mentorship and support networks for women in medicine on International Women’s Day.

OncLive: Could you share some of the specific challenges you've faced as a woman in the field of oncology, particularly in terms of career advancement and access to opportunities compared to your male counterparts?

Coopey: I am a female breast surgeon. I started through a general surgery residency 13 years ago. It was a mostly male-dominated program, so that was a little bit challenging, to be one of the handful of females within a male-dominated specialty. But once I got into breast surgery, it's almost an entirely female-dominated field; I was surrounded more by other women and mentors.

However, during residency, when it was very male-dominated, one of the things that helped me was to seek out other female surgeons to get advice about how to move forward. What are the things that are important for a career? I've been lucky to have, a lot of good mentorship and a lot of support, even from my male bosses. Therefore, I feel like there hasn't been a lot that has stood in my way.

I don't have a big pivotal moment where I felt like I was not given an equal opportunity. However, I believe that's unique within the world of breast surgery, because there are so many women within this field, so we do have a bond and camaraderie. We tend to lift each other up.

What strategies or initiatives do you believe are crucial for addressing gender disparities within the oncology profession and ensuring equal opportunities for women?

I feel like there can be a disadvantage for females, especially early on in their careers. If they're taking time off to have children, taking a break of 2 to 3 months for maternity leave can halt your career when you're just getting going. I feel like there can be more support, [meaning] if you're looking for an academic track and getting involved with research, to be able to have dedicated time and have the resources.

[It is important] to have a team of people that can continue to keep your research going while you may not be on site every single day. [It is also important] to just have people who are supportive of the fact that you're a working mom and that you're going to have to balance a career and home life, and [you cannot] be expected to do all your academic pursuits in the evening or in the weekend hours when you should be spending time with your family.

Regarding International Women's Day, how do you envision leveraging your role as a female oncologist to advocate for gender equality within the medical field?

Starting early on with mentorship, female mentors for female medical students or residents are important so that [these students] choose careers in oncology and breast surgery. As they go along, having someone to talk to who's been through [similar experiences] to help them all on their path [is important].

Creating a network and making it feel like you are part of something bigger, [and to feel like] a part of a big network of women helps quite a bit. It's easy to feel like you are struggling alone. However, [having] other female colleagues who you can talk to and who you can collaborate with makes it much more manageable. Therefore, seeking out mentors, being mentors for junior colleagues, students, and residents, and always having a team around you that lifts you up, are all things that I found particularly helpful.

What actions do you believe institutions and society should take to support women in oncology?

Appreciating women for their unique perspective on situations [can help support women in oncology]. I take care of a lot of [female] patients [as] a breast surgeon, and I feel like that gives me a unique perspective because I can relate to the young working mom who's trying to balance a career and family, and now has a devastating diagnosis, [meaning she needs to] try to balance her health and everything else.

[This perspective] gives you more empathy with your patients, and women are good doctors. We should encourage them to seek medical training and to go into oncology. Patients [with cancer] need a lot of support, [particularly] emotional support. I feel like women are good at that. We're good listeners, we're good at being patient advocates, and women in oncology do a good job.

What would you like your colleagues to take away from this conversation on International Women’s Day?

We face unique challenges with having to balance work, home life, kids, and other responsibilities. Therefore, we need to be given a little bit more flexibility in terms of time to pursue academic achievements. There can be a balance if there's an understanding, [allowing us to] prioritize and pick what's important to us.

Mentorship, teamwork, collaboration, and picking the things that are important to you [are all vital]. It is important to say no to things that you don't want to do. It's OK to say no, and it's OK to prioritize and pick the things that you love so that you're happy in your career.

Reference

International Women's Day 2024 campaign theme is 'Inspire Inclusion'. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.internationalwomensday.com/theme