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At a time when so many are thrilled to have matched to cardiology fellowship programs, there are always those who are crushed because they did not. That’s devastating, I can imagine - we’ve all had setbacks that feel soul-crushing in our lives. 1/8
A fellow cardiologist (I don’t personally know him, he’s not at my institution) decided to take to Twitter & suggest to men who did not match that they should “identify as women when [they] apply again.” When he was lambasted, he issued an apology calling it “a bad joke.” 2/8
I am trying to be gracious. Everyone makes mistakes with their words. But those words had barbs & reflected an underlying bias and bigotry against women and trans individuals that seems more than “a bad joke.” 3/8
To women contemplating cardiology training programs who saw this Tweet: it’s not like this all day every day; there is space for you in cardiology & from my own experience, you will be cherished by your patients & respected by your colleagues if you are a good doctor. 4/8
To men (& women) who did not match: these things happen; it doesn’t mean you are a bad person or undeserving. It does mean you have some work to do to figure out why & then double down on making your dreams happen. 5/8
To my colleagues in cardiology who are men with similar gut feelings as the original poster: come spend a day with me in clinic & tell me I don’t deserve to be here to my face instead of stabbing me in the back under the cloak of “a bad joke.” 6/8
Come sit in the echo lab with me & see that respected cardiac surgeon after surgeon & cardiologist & infectious disease colleague comes & seeks my opinion about a patient’s images & implications for their care & then tell me I don’t deserve to be here. 7/8
To my other colleagues who have spoken up: @GBarnesMD @JJheart_doc @ErinMichos @DrMarthaGulati @mmamas1973 & many more, I thank you. 8/8
