2026/05/21 by Candy Goulette · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Health Professions · #Social Media in Health Education #Diversity and Career in Medicine #Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
paper · doi:10.1097/01.asm.0001194292.79573.1e
openalex publication_date 2026/05/21 · openalex created_date 2026/05/22 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Women in anesthesiology are navigating a demanding career built around clinical precision, patient safety, and long hours in the OR, while confronting a stark reality–many are leaving. Nearly 40% of women physicians step away from full-time practice or exit medicine entirely within six years of residency, according to the University of Michigan's Intern Health Study (asamonitor.pub/4dzH8Va). Burnout and the ongoing challenge of balancing professional and family responsibilities are key factors. Yet, a quiet transformation is underway. Increasingly, women anesthesiologists are reshaping medicine instead of leaving. Through digital platforms, they are building alternative career pathways that blend clinical practice with entrepreneurship, education, advocacy, and creative expression. They are redefining what it means to have a fulfilling career in anesthesiology while taking care of themselves. From burnout to breakthrough For Sasha Shillcutt, MD, MS, FASE, the journey began with burnout. Eight years into a high-achieving academic career, she found herself overwhelmed by the cumulative weight of clinical duties, research, leadership roles, and raising four children.Sasha Shillcutt, MD, MS, FASE. Photo courtesy of Dr. Shillcutt.Rather than stepping away, she chose to reimagine her career. What started as a small text group with other women physicians became a full organization and business called Brave Enough, focused on leadership, boundary-setting, and professional sustainability for women in medicine (asamonitor.pub/4sonCyC). “I built what I needed myself,” said Dr. Shillcutt. “A community of women who wanted to be successful physicians without losing themselves in the process.” Dr. Shillcutt has amplified conversations around “citizenship tasks,” the often invisible, uncompensated work disproportionately carried by women, and created scalable mentorship networks that extend far beyond traditional institutions. Part of her strategy has been to use social media and digital communities to connect physicians beyond their institutions. She coauthored research in The New England Journal of Medicine exploring how online platforms can help advance women physicians by creating new networks and opportunities (N Engl J Med 2018;378:2342-45). “I do this work because I believe women make great doctors,” she says. “I want them to stay in medicine and thrive.” No timeline, no limits For Ebere Sonoiki, MD, PhD, the road to anesthesiology and pain medicine began when she arrived in the United States from Nigeria at age 18. Her journey reflects a deep sense of purpose shaped by faith, lived experience, and a desire to address inequities in health care.Ebere Sonoiki, MD, PhD. Photo courtesy of Dr. Sonoiki.Following an alternate trajectory that blended science, medicine, advocacy, and community engagement, Dr. Sonoiki uses social media as both a platform for representation and a bridge for nontraditional pathways. A former researcher who decided to pursue medicine at 36, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her Nigerian roots, scientific background, and commitment to health equity. She has witnessed firsthand the disparities in how pain is assessed and treated, particularly among women and patients of color. When she first searched online for others pursuing medical school later in life, she found almost no one sharing their experiences. So, she began sharing her own journey. “I convinced myself that everyone was judging my ‘crazy’ decision,” Dr. Sonoiki said. “Motherhood gave me purpose, not limits. The message I try to give people is hope. It's never too late to say yes to the path you're called to follow.” Creativity as a cure for burnout Dallas anesthesiologist Tiffany Moon, MD, has built a large following by embracing life beyond medicine. Initially posting anonymously, she focused on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content, intentionally creating distance from the professional boundaries of the OR. Over time, she incorporated glimpses into her work as an anesthesiologist, blending professional insight with personal authenticity.Tiffany Moon, MD. Photo courtesy of Dr. Moon.“So many women physicians deal with burnout. For me, the antidote was having interests and passions outside of medicine and the hospital, such as my candle line, my wine line, being on social media, and creating content that taps into my creativity, which we don't get to express in the operating room.” Today, her platform remains largely nonclinical. She has launched entrepreneurial ventures and continues her academic work. For Dr. Moon, these pursuits are not distractions, but rather safeguards that counterbalance burnout and allow her to blend lifestyle, entrepreneurship, and authenticity to build a more sustainable career in medicine. “I'm taking care of myself so that I'm fully connected while I'm with my patients,” she said. “And I'm trying to lead by example, giving other women in the medical sphere an opportunity to learn that.” Spotlighting women's pain and the voices treating it Dual board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain physician Alopi Patel, MD, is using digital media to address an important and persistent gap in medicine – the treatment of pelvic pain, particularly in women. She wanted to leverage social media to address this need but found a lack of health care provider voices online.Alopi Patel, MD. Photo courtesy of Dr. Patel.In response, she cofounded The Hurt Podcast: The Female Pain Docs with fellow anesthesiologist and interventional pain physician Meera Kirpekar, MD. The group uses social media to educate patients and clinicians on chronic pain, women's health, and lifestyle medicine. “This gave me a platform to speak to women's pain and women's health,” said Dr. Patel. “I also want men to feel that they can speak up because men don't feel comfortable seeking treatment for pelvic pain. There's such a need for it, and I'm passionate about it, so I'm leaning into those moments to create change.” Her work highlights how digital platforms can democratize medical knowledge, connecting patients directly with evidence-based insights while also fostering professional dialogue. By integrating clinical care with advocacy and education, Dr. Patel has used social media and podcasting to close gaps in care and reshape conversations around chronic pain. Beyond the OR These women anesthesiologists illustrate a broader shift within medicine. Social media allows them to bypass traditional boundaries, build communities, and create opportunities that align with their values and lives. Longevity in anesthesiology may depend on broadening one's focus, considering multidimensional careers, and embracing digital platforms. Investing in your career – inside and outside of the OR – pays long-term dividends for physicians and ultimately their patients. Candy Goulette is a health care journalist and a contributing writer for the ASA Monitor.