Women Physicians and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Women Physicians and the COVID-19 Pandemic Despite the complexity and challenges inherent in the US health care system and the unprecedented demands in and disruptions of clinical practice created by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it remains a privilege to be a physician.This privilege comes with many responsibilities, including a responsibility to reflect on the profession and address the entrenched dysfunctional ways of the work involved in medicine.The medical profession has missed opportunities to establish reasonable demands and expectations for physicians.Instead, physicians are often asked to do more that moves them away from the deep thinking that is needed for patient care.This has led to a loss of professional fulfillment and a moral crisis for an increasing number of physicians. 1,2ven before the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians have been affected by systemic issues that foster unhealthful work environments, with expectations of 24/7 availability and a persistent life-work imbalance. 3While some younger physicians are making intentional changes to their personal and professional lives, far too few physicians have effectively prioritized commitments to the personal roles they value.These preferences and other human factors that each physician brings to their vocation in medicine are framed by their personal experiences.This mix of personal attributes and professional skills can keep physicians healthy and thriving.