121. Leaning on Our Support Systems with Orthopedic Surgeon Caitlin Chambers

Leaning on Our Support Systems with Orthopedic Surgeon Caitlin Chambers

Introducing Caitlin Chambers

Today I’m talking to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Caitlin Chambers about leaning on our support systems.

Her Career Journey

Caitlin earned her BS in athletic training from the University of Michigan, hoping that this was her best opportunity to get her foot in the door of the world of sports surgery. As a med student at Wayne State University, she was able to continue working as an athletic trainer on the side. Caitlin completed her orthopedic surgery residency at Northwestern University and a sports medicine fellowship at UCSF. She is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota as well as the associate program director for the orthopedic surgery residency program at Minnesota

Leaning on Our Support Systems

As one of the few women orthopedic surgeons, Caitlin knows how important is it to have a support system. During residency, she was lucky enough to have three other woman co-residents in her class of 9. They were able to support each other then and together authored a paper that brought data to their lived experience. Caitlin gives back by providing mentorship and increasing awareness of orthopedics among young women so that one day, a resident class that’s half women is the norm and not just a fluke.

Inside this episode:

      • Caitlin’s early exposure to orthopedics as a high schooler set her up for success in the field. She notes that more men than women start med school with their sights set on orthopedics, setting themselves up to be more competitive applicants for residency. 
      • Caitlin is working to correct this problem by participating with the Perry Initiative, a program designed to introduce high school-aged girls to orthopedic surgery and engineering. 
      • She was one of four women in a residency class of nine, an unheard of scenario. Caitlin describes how they worked together during their later years of residency to maneuver scheduling rules that put women who have children at a disadvantage. 
      • Now an attending at Minnesota, Caitlin has found the environment to be very supportive and her colleagues have always encouraged her to ask for help when she needs it. 
      • She’s giving back and helping to shape the next generation of women in orthopedics with the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society. 
      • She was part of the first all-woman medical team for a professional women’s team as team physician for the Minnesota Whitecaps. She notes that for many of the women on the team, this might have been the first time that they received care from someone who looked like them.
      • Caitlin, along with 454 Minnesota woman physicians, signed an opinion letter calling for gun legislation. She describes how she was partially motivated by a politician telling doctors to stay in their lane and out of gun control and points out that helping people live healthy lives is her lane.

Resources

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