Dr. Susan V. George Talks About Leading a Residency Program and Her Dream of Equality, Opportunity, and Recognition For Women Physicians
“The most rewarding and fun part of my job though, is molding the next generation of healers.” Today’s woman dreamer, Dr Susan George, is a Program Director of Internal Medicine Residency at Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA. Growing up in Singapore, Susan was inspired by the age of 10 by children’s book, “The Jungle Doctor” An award-winning physician, Susan has received numerous awards such as SVH Physician of the Year Award, ACP’s Top Ten Hospitalists, the YWCA Katharine F. Erskine Award for Women in Leadership, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, UK. Susan shares how she built her medical career, the key learnings from leading the residency program of over 75 residents from around the globe , and her thoughts on some of the common issues young women doctors face. Enjoy her inspiring story!
1) Tell us your story. What inspired you to become a doctor, as well as an educator?
“Sometimes you find your path, sometimes it finds you” said Max Brooks, American author.
I had known right from childhood that what brought me joy was making people feel better. As a ten year old growing up in Singapore, I had chanced upon a children’s book series “Jungle Doctor” by Paul White and I was hooked. My dream was to become a doctor in a mission hospital in India. While my parents were not physicians, they inspired and supported me to pursue my dreams. I graduated with a medical degree from the National University of Singapore and went on to complete a fellowship with the Royal College of Physicians, UK with the hope of being able to work in India. Life however took me on a very different journey and my husband and I had to move to the US so that we could both practice medicine.
My leadership and educator trajectory started with my chief residency at Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester where I had completed my residency. I had wonderful mentors who guided me but allowed me to develop my own style of leading and teaching. I became the director of an academic hospitalist group where I was able to enjoy the two things I loved best – caring for patients and teaching residents and medical students.
I was given the opportunity to join the residency program first as Associate Program Director and after ten years in that role, stepped into the leadership role of Program Director of the internal medicine residency program with trainees from around the globe..
So why am I where I have reached today? Through the power of books to inspire thought, the guidance of visionary mentors, the loving support of family and Divine purpose leading me to where I will have the most impact to touch lives. It gives me chills that my journey has brought me to a point where in addition to having a 1:1 impact on my own patients, I am able to reach so many more international communities through my mentees.
2) You are the Program Director of the Residency program at St. Vincent's Hospital. Tell us more about your role there. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The training program at Saint Vincent Hospital has 75 residents from around the globe and as Program Director, I am responsible for overseeing the administrative aspects of the education of residents and ensuring that it is in compliance with regulatory bodies such as ACGME.
The most rewarding and fun part of my job though, is molding the next generation of healers. Training in the science and art of Medicine is very much an apprenticeship and it can only be learnt by modeling care. I enjoy having residents with me as we see patients together so that they learn clinical reasoning, communication and compassion right at the bedside. What thrills me is when they have discovered the joy of medicine -in learning, caring and impacting change.
3) In your role, you work with several young doctors and residents. What are some of the common trends or issues you think young women doctors face?
My trainees come from around the world and with the travel restrictions during the COVID pandemic, they were more isolated from their families back home. Our program leadership therefore made sure that they knew this was their second home.
Juggling life is especially challenging during the rigors of residency training. We offer support as our residents get married, during their pregnancy and raise their young families. Daycare for residents with young children can also be a challenge.
Maintaining resilience and self-compassion as a trainee physician is also crucial since between caring for patients at work and a family at home, they are at risk for burn-out.
4) What are some of your hobbies, and what is a fun fact about you that no one knows about?
Music including choral singing and nature walks are a few of the things I do to wind down. I’m also a foodie and my husband and I love trying out new cuisines.
5) As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
My hope is for equity and equality in opportunities and recognition for women physicians. Improved support in childcare and on the home front will allow many more women to soar in their fields where it may now be holding them back because the responsibility of the care of family including aging parents and children largely falls on women.
Check out a video from some of the St Vincent’s Residents!
Thank you Susan for sharing your inspiring story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
Dr Susan George is Program Director of Internal Medicine Residency at Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA and Associate Professor at the University of Massachussetts. She completed her medical school training at the National University of Singapore and received her membership at the Royal College of Physicians, UK. Following residency training at Saint Vincent Hospital, MA, she worked as a hopsitalist for 20 years and served as medical director of the SVH Hospitalist service for more than 10 years. She has received several teaching recognitions including the SVH best teacher award and UMASS Medical School Community teacher award. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, UK. She has also served in a number of key administrative positions in her capacity as Director of the Performance Improvement Committee for the Department of Medicine. She has a string of awards locally and nationally, including SVH Physician of the Year Award, ACP’s Top Ten Hospitalists, the YWCA Katharine F. Erskine Award for Women in Leadership and recently the MA ACP 2020 Distinguished Service Award. In 2020, Dr George became a Master of the College.
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