Meet OB/GYN resident Kate4138
“Always explain what you are about to do, and show instruments before you use them”
Dr. Kate Sanserino (@kate4138) has an undergraduate degree in English literature and worked for a year as an editorial assistant before deciding to change fields. After completing her pre-med requirements, she attended medical school at Southern Illinois University. During her clinical rotations, she fell in love with OB/GYN because it was a surgical field that allowed her to improve the lives of women. She is now a 2nd year OB/GYN resident in Philadelphia.
Last week, @kate4138 answered questions from our community of over 500,000 healthcare professionals. You can read the entire Q&A on Figure 1.
On Gender and Working in OB/GYN
Several questions posed to Dr. Sanserino related to gender issues in medicine. Responding to a question on gender in the healthcare system and how the industry could improve for women and transgender people, Dr. Sanserino wrote, “Briefly, as far as women and particularly pregnant women go — I think some of the problem comes from a defensive medicine-type practice. Refusing to treat pregnant women, essentially. Or treating all reproductive aged women as prepregnant. It’s discriminatory on both counts. Education and awareness re trans health is so important!”
To a man interested in pursuing a career in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Sanserino advised, “Have a sense of humor about it. Some patients are more comfortable with women docs but for some patients (particularly older patients) the opposite is true! Just be flexible.”
Dr. Sanserino had great advice on how to make patients comfortable: “This is especially important in OB/GYN — as the subject matter is so deeply personal and the exams are so invasive. For the history taking I always make sure to have family/friends leave. For exams, always explain what you are about to do, show instruments before you use them, warn before touching, etc. Be honest about what will be painful/uncomfortable.”
“[My favorite thing about being an OB/GYN is] the opportunity to help women with very personal, important parts of their lives. Even more so than other parts of medicine, issues of reproductive health, family planning, and sexual health are very private and yet very central to overall wellbeing. The trust that my patients place in me is such an honor.”
Login to Figure 1 to see the full Q&A with Dr. Sanserino, including her thoughts on switching careers from English literature to medicine.
