PULSE Magazine | March 2019 Issue

Describe the barriers you faced as a woman in Emergency Medicine and how you overcame them and/or dealt with them. I have not faced many barriers I suspect because there were several strong women already working as medics at Austin EMS prior to my arrival (Robin Cope, Bonnie Stroud, Bitsy Brooks, Pauline VanMeurs to name a few) AND I never felt that I was any less capable of doing the job than anyone else would be. The women in the fire depart- ment in the early days of my paramedic career certainly had it harder. To this day I still get ”you actually drive an ambulance?” said in a way that a female seemingly wouldn't be able to handle the task. Losing a patient is always difficult, no matter the circumstance or how long you have been practicing. Reflect on your own experiences and your coping mechanisms. I learned long ago to “not look” in other words, when I run on a “bad call” where there may be something horrible, people deceased, etc. I don’t look more than I absolutely have to so that the images don’t “imprint” on my brain. In the old days, EMS workers would take polaroid's to keep looking. I wonder how they’re doing now? My coping mechanisms and what I recom- mend to anyone is to find one or more interest that have or nothing to do with this job. There are healthy outlets for stress that do not include unhealthy addictions such as alcohol, food and drugs, etc. Looking back on your career, what advice would you give to your younger self? What words of wisdom would you like to impart on the new generation of female medics? Celebrate each day as we are not guaranteed tomorrow!

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