As a leading national medical group, we are proud to represent the country's diversity in our teams and the patients we serve. Our teammates reflect on the meaning of Women’s History Month, who inspires them and why it takes everyone working together to improve the healthcare system and the health of our communities. Read their stories below.
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Tejal N. Patel, MD
Dr. Tejal Patel is a radiologist and a Regional Medical Director of Radiology at Envision, managing care at five hospitals in Central Florida and serving as the Chief of Radiology at her primary hospital. She has been practicing for 12 years and specializes in women’s imaging and musculoskeletal imaging.
Is there a woman who has inspired you personally or professionally?
My greatest mentor and biggest influence is Dr. Maria Rodriguez, President of Radiology at Envision. She has always shown me it is possible to have a work-life balance and not feel guilty about succeeding in your career. She has also taught me how to become resilient and remain true to my beliefs. Unfortunately, women are taught not to speak up, but Dr. Rodriguez has always made sure that I continue to speak up and recognize my true potential. Barriers set up by traditional thinking need to be broken down and restructured so that we all have an equal place at the table.
What’s the best piece of advice another woman has given you that resonates with you or empowers you?
Speak up, do not be shy, and do not hesitate to share your ideas on how a practice can grow or how a hospital can improve its services. I always teach my sons that it never hurts to share an idea or ask for opportunities to grow. The worst that can happen is someone says “no” to you. If you do not try or ask, you will never know what you might be able to achieve.
What’s one piece of advice you would give women who may be interested in becoming a clinician?
Respect yourself and stay committed to your internal growth so that you can be a positive influence on other healthcare workers, not just women.
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Paula Brathwaite, MD, FACEP
Dr. Paula Brathwaite is an emergency physician and the Emergency Medicine Director at her hospital in Fayetteville, Georgia. She’s been practicing for more than 20 years and spends her free time working locally to support child advocacy rights and victims of sexual assault.
What are some of the systemic roadblocks in healthcare that women face compared to their male colleagues?
For many women in medicine, these roadblocks stem from gender inequity and the implicit gender bias embedded in our society. This problem is complex, and the solution to the issue of gender and race inequity is not easy. To effect change, we need to be deliberate in our efforts.
As a woman of color from Barbados, I have had to be intentional about being my authentic self. Because of my hair, accent or whatever other reason, I am often told that I do not look like a doctor – it doesn’t matter if I’m wearing a white coat, a stethoscope or a name badge. There is this assumption that I am not qualified and care will be substandard because I do not look like the stereotypical physician.
What’s one piece of advice you would give women who may be interested in becoming a clinician?
I believe that Sheryl Sandberg said it best, “It is important for women to be at the table.” As women, we struggle with implicit gender bias, hierarchical divisions, restricted parenting roles and microaggressions that erode our credibility. We see this from members of the opposite sex, other women, from individuals throughout the healthcare system and the media. As the primary caretakers of children, we often have to reduce our work hours to be at home. In the practice of medicine, a reduction in work hours results in decreased measured productivity and reduces our chances for promotion and equal pay. My advice would be to sit at the table where your voice can be heard. Your actions will help change this construct that perpetuates gender inequity.
You are making an impact in the work you do every day. What do you want your legacy to be?
I want my legacy to be one that inspires women and men at all levels of patient care to cultivate and practice a shared respect and appreciation for each other. I want to be remembered as someone who led by example and encouraged a culture of excellence, fairness and equality.
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Vidya Kumar Ramanathan, MD, MPH, FAAP
Dr. Vidya Ramanathan is an emergency physician specializing in pediatrics. She’s been practicing for 16 years and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to her work at the bedside, she’s an advocate for human rights.
What does women’s history mean to you?
It means understanding that despite the great strides we have made in justice and equality, there are still gaping disparities for minoritized women, especially Black, Indigenous and people of color women and those in the LGBTQIA+ communities. We need to learn from past lessons and blaze a path toward a more just and equitable future.
Is there a woman who has inspired you personally or professionally?
My mother works tirelessly for the betterment of society and has taught me the real meaning of service and being true to your word. My grandmother, the powerhouse of our family, was born on March 8 – International Women’s Day! She only had an eighth-grade education but knew that education would provide the surest pathway out of poverty for children in the streets of Bombay, India, her hometown. She often tutored children in her home and inspired me to go into healthcare.
In college, I went to the Himalayas and learned from a pediatrician who left a bustling practice in Delhi, India, to open a rural development center. She taught me the value of public health and grassroots outreach programs and how critical they are alongside medical interventions. Her mentorship cemented my love of medicine, public health and human rights.
You are making an impact in the work you do every day. What do you want your legacy to be?
I would be so lucky if the people I work with throughout my life know that they were loved and their stories and journeys were so important to me. It is the small moments that have the greatest impact. I often see people during the most traumatizing or difficult periods of their lives, both in the ER and in the human rights work I do, and I have come to understand that it is the human connections that bring meaning to our work and our lives.
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Nina Goins, RN, MSN
Nina Goins is the Vice President of Quality and Clinical Services at AMSURG and is based in Nashville, Tennessee. She started her career as a nurse and now works to improve patient safety, clinical quality and patient experience using evidence-based best practices across more than 250 ambulatory surgery centers.
What does women’s history mean to you?
It reminds me of the progress for and by women – the strength and tenacity of women who wanted to make a difference and fought to do so. I’m thankful for my grandmother showing me the value of hard work and perseverance.
As a woman in healthcare, what are some of the obstacles you’ve faced? How are you helping to eliminate some of those barriers for other women?
Some of the many obstacles have included being overlooked, not heard and not credited with my ideas and visions – being “just a nurse.” Because of this, I strive to credit my team for their ideas, encourage them to be brave and confident in sharing those ideas and show them that their contributions are valuable – no matter their job title or status.
You are making an impact in the work you do every day. What do you want your legacy to be?
That I was an inspirational leader who provided guidance and assistance with a problem-solving approach and that I led with integrity.
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Bridget Buzzella, MD, FAAP
Dr. Bridget Buzzella is a neonatologist and the Regional Medical Director of Neonatology in Colorado and Kansas. She’s dedicated her 13 years of practice to improving the health of mothers and their babies. She also serves as a physician peer-to-peer support coach for her hospital system and lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
What keeps you practicing and caring for patients day after day?
I am driven in knowing that we can contribute significantly to the life and outcomes of a very vulnerable and fragile population of sick and preterm babies. It is so rewarding to support a baby’s successful neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) journey to discharge home and into the arms of their families. The most rewarding day for me is our annual NICU reunion picnic where our former patients can come back and visit, and we have the opportunity to see them growing and thriving at home with their families. Hopefully, we can resume this safely in a post-COVID-19 era.
What are some of the systemic roadblocks in healthcare that women face compared to their male colleagues?
Women continue to face pregnancy and parenthood barriers because we are still seen as the primary caretakers, and the burden of raising a family and children is often seen as their responsibility. In certain medical fields and practices, there is still a significant pay disparity between male and female healthcare workers.
Why is diversity, equity and inclusion important in healthcare and at Envision?
It’s important to expose and break down any barriers that exist and work toward a better balance. Having participation and inclusion from teammates and leaders from various backgrounds and genders helps us develop more comprehensive decisions and strategies by bringing different skills and viewpoints to the table.
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Cara L. Mower
Cara Mower is a Vice President of Operations for Emergency Medicine. She’s focused on making sure clinicians have the resources they need to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care. She’s been with Envision for 24 years and is based in Horsham, Pennsylvania.
How do you celebrate Women’s History Month?
I celebrate with my family and friends, and we discuss what we’ve accomplished throughout the years. It also gives us a chance to hear what the younger generations are doing and instill confidence in what they want to do for their futures. We always celebrate each other’s accomplishments – whether someone receives a promotion, gets a new job or does something else.
As a clinical support teammate, what keeps you excited about your job and how are you contributing to the delivery of patient care?
Things change every day in medicine, and it keeps us on our toes. There is always something new to learn. I enjoy spending time with our clinical and business teams and working together to adapt to and get ahead of the evolving healthcare environment. The leadership and direction at Envision make me want to work harder to support our teams in the offices and at the hospitals.
What’s one piece of advice you would give women who may be interested in entering the healthcare field?
I would tell them to go for it. It is not always going to be easy, but nothing worth fighting for is easy. There are so many opportunities for women, and nothing should be holding them back. Never give up on your dream.
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Anna Tran, MD
Dr. Anna Tran is a hospitalist and the Associate Medical Director of Hospital Medicine. She specializes in internal medicine and pediatrics and has been practicing for more than 20 years. In addition to caring for patients in her Dallas, Texas, community, she travels to other countries to provide essential care to communities in need.
What does women’s history mean to you?
It means acknowledging the trailblazing efforts of women of the past. In school, I learned about many people who made important contributions, but most were White men, such as the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. But why didn’t I know that a Black woman named Alice H. Parker invented and patented the central heating furnace design? Or that Rosalind Franklin, a British woman, discovered the DNA double helix – not James Watson and Francis Crick who won the Nobel Prize for physiology in 1962? How many of us know about Stephanie Kwolek, who invented Kevlar, an extremely strong and heat resistant synthetic material used in hundreds of products, including frying pans, shoes, tires, sports equipment and musical instruments. Women’s History is an attempt to keep a fair and authentic representation of our contributions. It impacts a young girl’s future when she sees notable and accomplished women documented in the past.
As a woman in healthcare, what are some of the obstacles you’ve faced?
I’ve seen how implicit bias seeps into interactions at the hospital: in similar situations, people can often use a different tone and have a different response to men compared to women. Shining a light on these biases is an important step in unlearning behavioral patterns that limit women in the workplace.
What’s one piece of advice you would give women who may be interested in becoming a clinician?
Find your voice early – speak up for patients, bring helpful ideas to your team, become a better clinician and advance your career. Due to many complex factors, society tends to delay our confidence in young adulthood, which is especially true for women. The sooner you find that confidence, the sooner you will grow in your profession.
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Susan Wood, NNP, DNP
Susan Wood is the Regional Advanced Practice Provider Director for the Neonatology programs in Colorado and Kansas. She has more than 35 years of expertise in caring for the nation’s smallest babies. She’s based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and serves as an affiliate faculty member at a local university.
Is there a woman who has inspired you personally or professionally?
I have been blessed with amazing women role models, like my Envision teammates, Dr. Meg Prado, President of Women’s and Children’s Services, and Dr. Bridget Buzzella, Neonatology Regional Medical Director. There is simply no way you can be in their presence and not be inspired! I believe we bring out the best in each other. We respect each other as moms, wives and caregivers because each role is a part of who we are.
As a woman in healthcare, what are some of the obstacles you’ve faced? How are you helping to eliminate some of those barriers for other women?
I struggled with being a full-time single mom, nurse and returning to college with little support. I am surrounded by amazing women every day. I hope I am a positive role model and an example of what is possible. I want them to know that I am their biggest cheerleader and here to help them advance in their career paths.
What keeps you practicing and caring for patients day after day?
I enjoy the excitement and the unknown from each new day. I look forward to caring for families and seeing parents smile as we help them welcome their babies into the world – it’s one of the most cherished and memorable journeys of their lives. It makes me proud knowing that when my teammates and I are at the bedside, we are changing lives.
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Kimber Foust, MD
Dr. Kimber Foust is a pulmonary and critical care physician, the Assistant Medical Director of Telemedicine at Envision and the Assistant Medical Director at her hospital in Weatherford, Texas. She has been practicing for seven years.
What does women’s history mean to you?
I am humbled by the drive and the perseverance of the women that have come before me, advocating for women’s rights and equality. I am who I am today and able to excel as a physician because of them.
Why is diversity, equity and inclusion important in healthcare and at Envision?
I have found that often the traditional process in whatever aspect of life is not always the best or only way. Adding different backgrounds and viewpoints to situations will often lead to a much different and better outcome.
You are making an impact in the work you do every day. What do you want your legacy to be?
I want to be known as a physician that, first and foremost, took excellent care of patients and was a constant advocate for them. I strive to constantly improve and encourage my colleagues to always strive to provide the highest quality of patient care.
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Debra Lee, MD
Dr. Debra Lee is an emergency physician, a Site Medical Director at Envision and the Chief of Emergency Medicine at her hospital system in Northern Virginia. She’s been caring for patients for more than 17 years.
What keeps you practicing and caring for patients day after day?
After a year of COVID-19, this is more meaningful than ever, but it is simply interacting with other people in a positive way. Providing care is more than just “helping patients.” It’s about how we learn from and help one another. I learn something from every patient I see, and I try to give some of that back with every encounter.
What are some of the systemic roadblocks in healthcare that women face compared to their male colleagues?
Before the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for personal protective equipment 24/7, I always wore a white coat into the room. Not because I was cold or thought it looked particularly good on me, but because fewer patients complained about not having “seen the doctor” when I treated them. They didn’t always believe that I, a woman, was a doctor. It is a very basic and pervasive bias.
As a woman in healthcare, what are some of the obstacles you’ve faced? How are you helping to eliminate some of those barriers for other women?
I make a conscious effort to do this and encourage all my colleagues to do the same—we must continue to normalize women in all specialties and leadership roles within the house of medicine.