One of the biggest challenges women face in medicine is being taken seriously. Fair or not, we have to work harder than our male colleagues to show patients, nurses, and consultants that we know what we’re talking about. In today’s SlideShare, two experienced physician leaders offer practical tips on communicating confidently and assertively … without losing yourself in the process.

1. Advice for women in medicine

2. When we were starting our
medical careers
as women physicians,

3. We got a lot of bad advice on
communication.

4. Things like …
• Show the nurses who’s boss.
• Try to fit in with the guys.
• Pay more attention to sports.
• Fake it ‘til you make it.

5. “Someone told me, ‘Follow
college basketball.’ And I really
honestly didn’t give a hoot about
basketball. I thought if I tried to
fake it, I’d sound like a fool.”
Ren Vitkovitsky, MD
CEP America Regional Director

6. While there’s a lot of bad advice
out there, it’s true that
communication
matters.

7. And that’s true in medicine
no matter your gender.

8. “Communication is the key to
everything in medicine. You have to be
able to get your ideas across, whether
you’re caring for a patient, working with
a family, or leading a team.”
Ren Vitkovitsky, MD
CEP America Regional Director

9. And it’s probably fair to say that
when it comes to communication,
women have unique
challenges.

10. Stuff we hear …
• RN: Are you sure that’s the right
order?
• CONSULTANT: Have you
thought about this diagnosis?
• PATIENT: Hey, the nurse is
here!

11. “There’s a perception that women are more
emotional than objective. And maybe there’s
some truth to that. But both genders can
absolutely learn to set emotion aside and
communicate more confidently.”
Gurvinder Kaur, MD
CEP America Associate Regional Director

12. That’s Where
We Can Help.

13. Ren Vitkovitsky, MD
Regional Director,
CEP America
Gurvinder Kaur, MD
Associate Regional Director
CEP America

14. Over the years, we’ve learned to
speak with confidence
while still being
ourselves.

15. Here are our best
tips for building
trust with
• Patients and families
• Nurses and staff
• Colleagues

16. The image part with relationship ID rId3 was not found in the file.
Communicating with Confidence:
Patients and Families

17. The Challenge:
Be open without
doubting yourself

18. “I can’t tell you how often patients
mistake me for a nurse when we
meet. The best thing I can do in
that situation is to speak with
confidence and knowledge.”
Gurvinder Kaur, MD
CEP America Associate Regional Director

19. How? First, reintroduce yourself
and your role
every time you enter
the room.

20. Hi, I’m Dr. Davis,
your hospitalist.

21. Hi, I’m Kim Davis,
your anesthetist.

22. Look the part
• Keep your badge visible and
facing outward
• Take along some business
cards to hand out

23. Be explicit about
your role
Tell patients that you are:
• In charge of coordinating their
care
• The one making decisions
about tests, treatments, and
discharge

24. “There are still a lot of patients
and family members who will
second guess a female provider
more than a male. So you have
to be doubly prepared.”
Ren Vitkovitsky, MD
CEP America Regional Director

25. Reassure them
with your
knowledge
• Accept that you may have to
know more, study more, and
say more to earn patients’
confidence
• Anticipate their questions and
have answers ready

26. “No one likes it when their expertise
is questioned. But getting defensive
doesn’t help the situation, and it
definitely doesn’t make you look
more confident or objective.”
Gurvinder Kaur, MD
CEP America Associate Regional Director

27. Ways to show
objectivity
• Here’s what I’m seeing.
• Here are the data.
• Here’s what science says about
that.

28. Finally, remember that you can
show empathy and compassion
while still projecting
confidence.

29. In fact, confidence can be very
compassionate.
It puts the patient’s
mind at ease.

30. The image part with relationship ID rId3 was not found in the file.
Communicating with Confidence:
Nurses and Staff

31. The Challenge:
Establish both
authority and trust

32. “Is it true that female nurses are harder
on female physicians? Maybe. But I also
think some of that friction is self-created.
We’ve been warned about nurses, so
when they question us, we notice.”
Ren Vitkovitsky, MD
CEP America Regional Director

33. Stand out by remembering
names.
It’s a sign of respect
and collegiality.

34. Find common
ground
• Family and parenting
• Music, movies, and TV
• Sports
• Hobbies and crafts

35. Be human. If you’re wrong or
don’t know the answer,
admit it.

36. Make nurses’ lives
easier
Help out when a patient needs:
• A glass of water
• A blanket
• Assistance walking to the
bathroom

37. “Collaborate with your
nurses. Seek their input.
Remember, unlike you,
they’re with the patient 12
hours a day.”
Gurvinder Kaur, MD
CEP America Associate Regional Director

38. Education before
discipline
• Nurses are hungry to learn
• Use feedback as a teaching
opportunity
• Put them on your level by
sharing your knowledge

39. Building relationships with nurses
takes time and effort.
But it can also really
pay off.

40. “If you have good relationships with your
nursing staff, they’ll become your biggest
cheerleaders. They’ll tell your patients how
lucky they are to have you and your colleagues
how lucky they are to work with you.”
Ren Vitkovitsky, MD
CEP America Regional Director

41. The image part with relationship ID rId3 was not found in the file.
Communicating with Confidence:
Colleagues

42. The Challenge:
Fit in without being
“one of the guys”

43. “So remember that advice I got about
basketball? Well, I didn’t take it.
Instead, I talk to my male colleagues
about our kids, their soccer games,
and things that feel more authentic.”
Ren Vitkovitsky, MD
CEP America Regional Director

44. And you can too. It’s fine to steer
the conversation toward
subjects that feel
comfortable to you.

45. “If you have a hard time finding
common ground, there’s always
medicine. It’s amazing how
healthcare providers can bond over
a septic knee or parasitic infection.”
Gurvinder Kaur, MD
CEP America Associate Regional Director

46. If the conversation’s making you
uncomfortable,
don’t feel pressured to
join in.

47. You can always
• Change the subject
• Find something else to do

48. “Sometimes the humor in our
physicians’ cafeteria gets a little
gross. I find if I don’t respond,
the guys get the idea and move
the conversation on.”
Gurvinder Kaur, MD
CEP America Associate Regional Director

49. Remember that humor is often
the best medicine.
Appreciate it. Use it.
Laugh often.

50. Be honest about
your challenges
• Balancing work and family
commitments
• Gaining the confidence of
patients and nurses

51. But at the same time, don’t
accept or give
special treatment.

52. Finally, always be sure to
treat yourself as an
equal

53. “Give yourself the credit
you deserve, just like you
give everyone else the
credit they deserve.”
Ren Vitkovitsky, MD
CEP America Regional Director

54. The image part with relationship ID rId3 was not found in the file.
Some final thoughts on
Communication

55. While knowing some techniques
helps, there’s no one magic way
to communicate
effectively.

56. Finding and owning your
personal communication style
encourages others to
find theirs.

57. Respect colleagues with different
communication styles.
Everyone’s voice
should matter.

58. The image part with relationship ID rId3 was not found in the file.
Those are our tips on
Communicating With
Confidence

59. We hope they will help you to get
your ideas across
while still being you.

61. Want more great SlideShares for
women in medicine? Check out:
Climbing the
Leadership Ladder

62. Thank You!