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March 8th marks the day that females are recognised and celebrated globally, for their social, cultural, political and economic achievements. However, some women are performing miracles in the background, helping others day in and day out. These are the women who forefront our healthcare, who deserve the highest of podiums today. We should take into consideration that ninety per cent of nurses worldwide are female, and with the recent ongoings of the pandemic, they are on the frontline and a fundamental core of overcoming it.
Dr Natalie Truong, an emergency physician at St. Georges University shares her insight on what it’s like first-hand to be working in the emergency medical field. “As its name implies, emergency medicine refers to the treatment of illness or injuries requiring immediate attention. No matter the facility, every emergency department (ED) is populated by numerous different medical professionals who are all working toward a common goal: to save and preserve the quality of life for patients who are experiencing some sort of physical or emotional duress.”
Dr Truong explains emergency medicine is an exceedingly challenging environment to work in every day. As one could only imagine, it is anything but predictable. As much as medical school will enrich you with the knowledge needed to diagnose and treat patients, it can’t prepare you for the high-rush nature of the job.
As she looks back at her first days in A&E, recalling back she has “never experienced that intense a rush of adrenaline, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty,”. Studying cardiac and respiratory arrests was one thing, she notes, “but to stand in front of someone undergoing one is an entirely different story.” Being a woman and gaining such a highly respected role as a doctor is inspiring and takes a lot of sleepless late nights and dedication. “To be a great emergency doctor, you have to have the drive, the discipline, the perseverance, and the passion.” There are many women changing the world and these are just some who have inspired us all this year through healthcare, activism, technology, culture and science: working together to focus on things that really matter.
