"When you think too much about the obstacles, you do little" - An interview with Marie-Claude Morice
Dr Morice, from France, explains to us why she is convinced that women have a place in the field of medicine.
Work is an important part of your life and choosing the right career for you is fundamental so that you are happy to go to work every morning.
Why are there still so relatively few women interventional cardiologists? Do you think that working conditions (e.g. exposure to radiation) may be an impediment on women embarking on this career path?
Yes, indeed, there are still fewer women than men in interventional cardiology, but this is gradually changing, and their number tends to be on the increase in this field. For instance, in my institution, two young women have recently joined our Interventional Cardiology team.
It is also true that this is a very demanding job with on-call duties requiring round-the-clock availability.
Pregnancy and exposure to X-ray can be considered as potential issues although these have been shown to be a false problem in the Women As One's radiation safety document.
There is currently an increasing percentage of young women successfully completing their medical curriculum and I hope that many of them will pursue this beautiful career.
Marie-Claude Morice
What made you choose this specialty?
Among the various medical specialties that I discovered during the course of my studies, which involved practical internships, general cardiology and, then, intensive cardiac care and catheterization really appealed to me as 'the right place to be’ for me. My interest in the heart has never subsided.
What is the main obstacle you have encountered to become an interventional cardiologist? How did you manage to overcome this?
I haven’t really been confronted with any obstacle so to speak. It is possible that I may have had to work harder than my male counterparts, but the main thing is that I have always striven to achieve my objectives single-mindedly, with steadfast dedication and hard work.
When you think too much about the obstacles, you do little.
From your point of view, what are the main assets you may have as a woman, compared with your male colleagues?
I am convinced that in the field of medicine women and men alike carry out their tasks to the best of their abilities.
As far as I am concerned, I have a natural tendency to empathize with my patients and to feel their potential discomfort.
Women are said to focus more on the ‘caring’ aspect.
In addition to the technical and intellectual requirements of my work, I have always tried to take care of my patients by addressing every aspect of their vulnerability. Beyond all technical achievements, looking after my patients has always been my main purpose and my passion.
Do you feel your patients have a different attitude to you because you are a woman? Do you feel your colleagues treat you differently because you are a woman?
I believe that patients have been used to being treated by women physicians for a long time now.
This was not always the case when I started working and I remember visiting patients in their hospital room who were about to give me their urinal assuming that I was a nurse or an orderly before I was able to start interacting with them. I never took it badly and I tried to circumvent this kind of situation with humour.
I do not feel that my colleagues treat me differently because I am a woman. There are both advantages and disadvantages to being a woman doctor. In our professional environment, our main focus must remain our work and not our private life much less our sexual life.
As far as I am concerned, I have never allowed anyone treat me with scorn or underestimate me because I am a woman. The main thing is to be self-confident and to infuse/inspire confidence in people around you.
What advice can you provide to young women fellows wishing to pursue a career in interventional cardiology?
I am not sure that these young women need my advice, but I am glad if I have been able to help some of them achieve their objectives and pursue their career successfully in this very inspiring field by sharing my own experience with them and mentoring them.
Work is an important part of your life and choosing the right career for you is fundamental so that you are happy to go to work every morning.
