Aperture

“I am the first woman graduate of Yale College to be tenured in the biological sciences in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Yale. I chose to be a scientist out of boundless curiosity. If I could offer advice to my younger self, I would say “don’t worry.” My advice to the next generation is to ignore the naysayers.”

“I am glad for women entering the medicine field today. When I entered medicine decades ago, it was truly a man’s world. I was the only woman in my residency years at Penn and during the first part of my career in the Nephrology Section at Yale. Although we have much more progress to make in placing women into leadership roles, the environment is so much better now with more women. The support and wisdom women receive from each other makes the journey easier and more rewarding.”

"When I was a medical student, I read Irwin Braverman’s Skin Signs of Systemic Disease. The next week during Grand Rounds—back then medical students were the first to present their differential diagnoses—I stated that I thought my patient had histiocytosis X, and less likely dermatitis. The attending dermatologist asked, “What makes you think the patient has such a rare entity?” I responded that it looked just like the picture in Dr. Braverman’s book! Believe it or not, the patient actually had histiocytosis X—truly beginner’s luck. The fact that I got the diagnosis right reflects how important a well-written book is for trainees.”

“So much has changed for the better for women in science during my career. Looking back, I can see how the persistent, persuasive, and ultimately effective efforts by many people have made all the difference. To my younger self, I would say—even small steps can add up to enormous impact, so don’t be afraid to speak up!”

"I have always admired physicians who are both excellent clinicians and have made scientific and clinical contributions, both great and small, to their respective fields. I would tell my younger self that the hard work is well worth it. To the next generation, I would say: It’s only crazy ’til you do it."

“I was brought up in Mexico in an environment where male privilege was the unspoken rule. I chose my career path as a result of a passion for science and for understanding how disease happens, plus the guidance of strong teachers and mentors. I would tell my younger self and the next generation of women: No matter how junior you are, speak up and fight for what you think is right. Be yourself, do not allow anybody to intimidate you, do not expect to be given special considerations, and always do your best. Obstacles are challenges that can be overcome and that can become stepping stones.”

“I find many parallels between my experience as a woman and my experience learning a new language. While trying to integrate into a foreign country, I have felt the frustration of having clear ideas in my mind but not being understood. It was as if my voice was muffled, sometimes mute. In the world of science where we seem to speak a common language, I often feel the same. How as women we think about problems, articulate an argument, is frequently quite different from men. In a professional world dominated by men, this can cause our voices to not be heard and to many talents being wasted.”

“I chose to be a scientist for the pure joy of scientific discovery. Truth will prevail in the end. Don't worry about the short-term consequences and don’t let anyone convince you that you are not good enough for science. Find an area of science you love and pursue it like there is no tomorrow!”

“I entered medical school, inspired by my dad who was a physician. I developed a passion for anatomy, for what it is, to use the psalmist’s words, something that is “fearfully and wonderfully made.” My inspiration through my career that stretched over four decades came from my students. My advice to women at the threshold of their careers is to choose a good mentor, learn to trust your instincts, have confidence to speak out, and do not hesitate to take charge should the opportunity arise. I did not always. Above all be passionate about what you do.”

“I chose a career path that reflected my values: collegiality, excellence, and service. My biggest role model has been my mother, an ob/gyn, and the first woman in her small city in Iran to go to medical school. Along the way I have been fortunate to have had mentors who inspired, encouraged and pushed me, but also let me follow my own path, at my own pace. I would tell my younger self to get over her imposter syndrome. Everyone is figuring it out as they go. Just because something has been done a certain way doesn’t mean that’s the best way.”

“Risk and uncertainty are often considered reasons to avoid a career in research—but I find the possibility of observing the unexpected and unanticipated too exciting to pass up.”

“I have loved my career because I love science and discovery. With the right experiments, the right team of collaborators, and a bit of good fortune, scientists can reveal aspects of the world we didn’t previously know.”

“Being a woman in cardiology, doing a combination of clinical care for patients with arrhythmias, and clinical research, has been and continues to be an enormously satisfying career. While being a woman in a mostly male field can occasionally bring challenges, staying focused on why you went into the field—the patients, the clinical questions, the research questions—keeps the work satisfying.”

“Having grown up in the Deep South, I was keenly awareof the range of life circumstances. I saw the results of lifelong poverty but also the importance of culture and community. I chose the field of medicine because I wanted to devote my life to helping those I could help. And I chose pediatrics, because I feel that early life experiences have an indelible impact on the outcome of person's life. Working to improve the life trajectory of any one of those children or families is my daily reward."

“Each of us has a story that weaves in and out with the lives and stories of those who have shaped us and tried to sweep our path clean as we move forward. This is why I chose a quilt made by my mother for this portrait’s background. Quilts are stories written in fabric. I am at Yale because of so many mentors who listened and gently guided. The greatest gift we can give to those who come after us is the freedom, acceptance, and support to create their story. I am most grateful for the opportunity now to give back.”

“Equity, diversity, and inclusiveness are more a part of our lives than ever before. We see how the resulting balance of views and experience informs us and enriches us. Yet change is difficult and not always welcome. We hope that our efforts to make change inspire you to make lives even better. Be strong, join together—we know that you will. Never give up—we know that you won’t.”

“My most meaningful life experiences have been ones that are high-risk and high-reward. I would tell my younger self to lose the fear. Resist the forces pushing you to conform to historical phenotypes and create new models of success. What we bring to every profession should not be our ability to perform “maleness,” but our diversity of perspective and lived experience that will reveal novel questions and solutions to tackle vexing challenges. I count myself among the fortunate who can combine my curiosities in one job and work every day with the hope of contributing to meaningful change.”

“Remember to periodically pause and smell the many roses that will embellish your path. Listen to your inner self, pause often, and reflect. Don’t worry about making mistakes, but remember to learn from them; the possibilities are endless. My mother, who was a professor of ob/gyn in Pakistan and rose to the rank of brigadier in the Pakistan Armed Forces, remains my inspiration and a role model I strive to emulate.”

“I offer the following advice to my younger self: Take time for yourself and get more sleep. Throughout college and graduate school and later, when I had children, I was working so hard that I was exhausted a good part of the time. I now realize that much of that “work” was unproductive because it was actually devoted to worry. Something that not many people know about me is that late in life I took up percussion at the instigation of one of my daughters. I now play (rather badly) snare drum and drum set.”

“I have been fortunate in receiving many scientific awards, including the 2019 Genius Award from the Liberty Science Center and election to National Academy of Medicine. In my career and in my life, I have always put family first and chose to be a stay- at-home mom for my three sons (eldest and then two years later twin sons, three under three) for eight years followed by working at Yale part-time until my children finished high school. Women should know that it does not have to be either career or children, it is possible to follow both yearnings, succeed, and be fulfilled.”

“Every day is an adventure.”

"I chose my career path because I have a passion for understanding what mechanisms drive human behaviors and choices. I would tell my younger self: Speak up and assert yourself more. To the next generation I would say: Follow your passion despite any obstacles, especially those from others."

“I would tell younger myself not to allow others to define to me. Some disciplines still believe that innate brilliance is required for success in STEM fields. Some people still believe women can be smart and fastidious but not brilliant. This bias can be internalized and make women vulnerable so they take the long way around to achieve success in coding and high mathematics. Women need women and men as mentors. Women provide environments where genius and talent will flourish. Men understand how to navigate the male-dominated system and insist on taking what is theirs. Both are needed for success.”

“Follow your passion. Do not let feelings of inadequacy or doubt impede you. They are natural and plague everyone who feels that they may belong to a disadvantaged minority. Focus on the next step, not some far-distant goal. The rewards of your own accomplishments will sustain you.”

“I loved learning about DNA as a child and wanted to have a career focused on molecular biology. Around the same time, my young cousin and a close friend succumbed to cancer. These events significantly influenced my choice to study DNA repair and cancer, with the hope of contributing to finding a cure for this disease. I would tell my younger self that my thoughts and opinions are important to voice. I would not let aggressive behavior by others curtail me from sharing my thoughts and opinions. To the next generation, I would say: We need you, your ideas, creativity, and novel thoughts. You are an inspiration and a joy!”

“My advice to younger faculty is to be true to yourself. Adhering to your core values and principles will ensure that you live with integrity. That means you need to understand yourself— what it is that makes you professionally and personally satisfied; what it is that assures you will find joy in your work. Over time, your goals will evolve and change. As long as the decisions guiding those changes align with your values and principles, you will achieve joy in your professional and personal work.”

“My advice to the next generation is to be yourself. Do not fall in the trap that tries to mold you to be a clone of others. Your success will only be relevant to you if you remain your true authentic self. I spent so much wasted time trying to dress and develop the same vocabulary and mannerisms of what I thought was success personified. What I learned is that success is an inner to outer movement. You cannot be truly successful by just looking the part.”

“All of us, men and women alike, have gone through difficult times professionally, and it is easy to think and focus on all the “wrong” that has been inflicted upon us. Focusing on this will make us complainers and victims. Doing that has not brought me any good. What has been good in my experience has been to focus on what I can do well, and how I can contribute to others’ intellectual strengths, career advancements, and life. And one of the best things that I could do in response to perceived blows was to respond with humor. That was a definite winner.”

“I decided to be a physician in my early childhood. I was fascinated by the possibility of a career dedicated to helping other people and understanding the human body and how it is all integrated to work like a perfect symphony. Medicine was a way to bring this balance back to normal when something was out of sync. I would tell my younger self to focus on the big picture and the things you want to accomplish instead of the petty issues. You cannot control everything in your life, but do everything with passion and enjoy the trip.”

“My path toward becoming a physician-scientist started with a childhood curiosity about nature and a love of puzzles, coupled with a desire to nurture living things. As a physician-scientist, I am able to combine those passions and learn from their interplay. Taking care of patients has made me a better scientist by prompting questions that conform to the realities of human disease. Having a footprint in both clinical and research domains and learning from a diverse faculty has also informed my role as an administrator. Notes to next generation: Identify your values and the things that excite you and use them to illuminate your path in life.”

“If I could, I would tell my younger self, what doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger. The hard work and differently wired brain will see you through and will help you overcome the many obstacles along the way. To the next generation I would say never give up on yourself, and ignore the naysayers. Your goals may change and the journey can be arduous, but there will be many good people and experiences along the way. You can have a family (if you choose) and a career, but there is no balance, just lots of hard work, juggling, and lack of sleep.”

“My career is dedicated to working with and on behalf of vulnerable children and families and the communities in which they live, work, and play because I was one of them. To my younger self I would say: The impact of childhood vulnerabilities can last a lifetime, but it does not have to. The road to meaningful personal and professional lives takes courage, persistence, and support from others. Trust yourself, stay the course, you will become what you envisioned. To the next generation: Challenge systems of oppression and persist.”

“The only career advice I had in college was given to the Radcliffe freshman class (1964) from President Bunting, who said that we would all get PhDs or other advanced degrees, have children, and work full time. Luckily, I had two brothers who were in medicine and I loved dinnertime stories about life in the Bellevue ER. My hesitation was that if I didn’t like it I would’ve taken one of the 6 to 10% of places allotted to women at the time. Fortunately, I loved both medical school and residency at Yale. Teaching people to see is an amazing experience requiring creativity to understand what students do and don’t see and then figuring out how to get them there.”

“If I could offer advice to my younger self, I would say that whatever you choose to do with your life, make it something that excites you. Life is not a dress rehearsal, so irrespective of others’ expectations or of what mold you are supposed to fit in, focus on what brings you true and meaningful fulfillment. If you suffer from imposter syndrome, as I do, learn to view your inner negative voice as just noise, and realize that quite a few naysayers lack vision and are therefore limited in their ability to see your potential and what you can accomplish.”

“Becoming a physician fulfills a passion to serve others. Becoming a psychiatrist is the ultimate fulfillment. Understanding others led me to understand myself first, learn the value of my culture, appreciate diversity, and share the journey with trainees. Advice to my younger self: Learn your value and the value of your contributions. Find models you like and seek their guidance. Run away from negativity. Find a spot where you and your interests are supported. Find enough time for yourself and family. Your passion for serving others will lead to fulfillment.”

“I would not have chosen any other career, both in the field of medicine and specifically in women’s health. I have juggled a wonderful family with three children and now four grandchildren, as well as a major passion for music and playing the French horn. Women in medicine have made a huge difference in a positive way both for patients and how the field has evolved. However, medicine needs to address work-life balance in such a way that women are embraced in leadership positions more readily. Allowing both men and women this flexibility will only make better doctors.”

“Don’t trust anyone who says you don’t need more math courses.”

“A career in medicine is both personally rewarding and challenging. You develop close, nurturing relationships with your patients, practice state-of- the-art medicine, and educate the next generation of physicians, but you can be stretched to your limits. Finding balance in your life is important and we all struggle with this. The most important piece of advice I can offer is find a pathway that excites/challenges you, since this will be a large part of your life. What has helped me is the support from my family and mentors throughout my career.”

“The fundamental message of equity and inclusion has informed my research, clinical work, and leadership duties at Yale and beyond. I am passionate about helping all people achieve wellness and recovery from substance use disorders. My goal is to improve outcomes for patients from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations by involving them in every step of the process, from research to clinical interaction. I am elated and inspired that at Yale, I have been able to exist in an environment supportive of my vision to work with communities, integrating the cultural and religious aspects of people’s lives, while also addressing structural inequities that impede improved mental health and wellness.”

“When I was small, my father said, “I think when you grow up, Yale will be accepting women,” and he was correct. I wanted to discover something important and this passion drove me to pursue the side of medicine where scientific inquiry was the focus. Looking back, I would tell my younger self and the newest generation of physician scientists not to procrastinate, but also not to be too impatient, because making discoveries takes time. For me, knowing that my children and my trainees will continue to discover things and make improvements for women in medicine provides meaning to my life’s work.”

“Research is, at its heart, a wildly creative endeavor requiring imagination, hard work, and chutzpah, tempered with humility. The wonderful thing about data is that it can prove you wrong and that is where the greatest insights are to be gained. This process is accelerated by working in diverse teams willing to challenge assumptions and learn from each other. Keep your ego in check, your imagination active, work hard, play well in the sand box with others, and you will go far.”

“In 1986 as a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, the message was everywhere: you could not succeed as tenured faculty at a research university and also have children. There were no role models. After 33 years on the Yale faculty, doing research, teaching, and battling for gender equity, with two children and a husband, today I see role models and success for women. Find your mentors, advocates, an enthusiastic partner, and go for it. What you achieve matters for all women.”

“I came to this career because of role models who were happy in their specialty; recognizing which of my senses were particularly strong, e.g. visual acuity, rather than hand dexterity; and truly enjoying the diagnostic side of medicine. To my younger self I would say: Embrace your professional identity. To the next generation my advice is: Don’t let the subtle, unconscious, gender bias that you will experience in your daily interactions, interfere with going for what you really want!”

“The advice I would offer the next generation of women in science is “Never stop questioning.” This has been my mantra for over 40 years at Yale, and I have enjoyed every moment of the journey.”

“Innovations for discovery are always changing and expanding our abilities, but the curiosity to understand is constant. I am fascinated by how cells work, how they communicate and interact with one another, how underlying chemical reactions define cell function and movement, and how all that translates into health or disease. There is so much that needs to be discovered! I take joy from my career in research surrounded by brilliant and energetic colleagues who join me in making scientific discovery a lifelong goal. I encourage the next generation to be fearless—we need all the talent we can get.”

“Being a woman in medicine at Yale has had consequences that, after 26 years, continue to reveal themselves. I have met and continue to meet inspiration, friendship, generosity, and collaboration, and, occasionally, their opposites. My advice to my younger self and to those who follow is to take both criticism and praise less personally, to focus on the many productive interactions with colleagues, to cherish family and friends, and to embody a mindset of service. These considerations and a passion for patient care remain my touchstones in medicine and in life.”

“I am constantly delighted that I am at Yale where I can teach wonderful students, pursue my research interests, and assist as a mentor. I began studying the history of medicine because it fascinated me. My early career veered in many directions and I tried to follow my heart, which led me to move to New Haven to marry and have a family. I managed to carve out time for my scholarly passions, but it was six years before I became a full-time assistant professor. I would urge younger women to find a balance between professional responsibilities and private joys, and to make seeking and achieving that balance a legitimate practice for everyone.”

“The approximately 15 species of passerines in various islands of the Galapagos, known as Darwin’s finches, have remarkable differences in their beaks. We now know this is a result of natural selection allowing the different species to adapt to their unique niches. The shape and function of the beaks best suit the environment the birds inhabit. Just as the large ground finch is not required to catch insects in flight as the warbler finch would, one should neither worry about one’s origin, race, background, or gender, nor compare oneself to others. What is important is giving one’s best and being aware of the consequences of one’s actions.”

Dr. Shwartz received her PhD in molecular biology and biophysics from Yale in 1968. She joined the Yale faculty as associate professor from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1987. In 1989 she became professor of surgery (otolaryngology) and neurobiology. She conducted research that allowed for better management of central tinnitus and provided the basis for cochlear implants for use in the treatment of deafness. She was the second woman president of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology and chaired several committees for the National Institutes of Health. She was professor emeritus of surgery when she died in 2018.

“My Yale interview and my NYU interview were on the same day in 1961. The NYU interviewer said to me “Girls play lacrosse?” when we discussed my non-academic activities. The Yale interviewer said, “We really like your record and would like to invite you to join the incoming class.” That was Yale then and it is still Yale. Having now retired after more than 20 years on the faculty, I look back with gratitude for all that I gained and learned here at Yale and hope that I have given back in kind.”

“Reflecting on my life in medicine, several things stand out that made it profoundly satisfying and rewarding. My choice of profession resonated emotionally and intellectually for me, and this sustained me through difficult times. Having had a stressful childhood, I was drawn to helping children and their families. I had wonderful mentors who encouraged me to become an advocate for physicians and the doctor/patient relationship, for families and for patients, and to be involved in the broader institutions of medicine. To the next generation of women, I would say follow your passion and your values; don’t be afraid to lead.”

“There was a time in my life when my family struggled financially. We had no health insurance and hence relied on free medical and dental student clinics at a nearby teaching hospital. The clinics were a godsend and part of my inspiration for pursuing a career in academic medicine. My own experience has drawn me to vulnerable communities and made me especially sensitive to the social and economic circumstances surrounding the health of my patients. To my younger self I would say: Seek out peer mentors, senior mentors, and mentors inside and outside of your discipline. Multiple perspectives will give you the best understanding of your environment and the greatest chance to thrive.”

“Advising my younger self, I would say: Felicidades! Spend more time being your own best friend instead of your harshest critic. Keep working hard, as effort and dedication are the energy propelling your engine. Embrace your mistakes because they are part of your education; on the other side of failure your better self awaits. Value and celebrate what makes you different—don’t fight that you may think, believe, speak, dream, look, eat, or even dance differently from others. And, most importantly, jamas olvides tus raices (never forget where you came from).”

“Becoming a physician and surgeon is both an incredible privilege and an overwhelming responsibility, with rewards and challenges that have been too numerous to count. The learning curve through the education and training was so steep and intense, I entered my practice and family life with the same intensity, but I think I should have reset my tempo at that point. As women physicians we have so many opportunities, but we can pace ourselves. We don’t have to be superwomen. It’s OK to say no to opportunities if the timing isn’t right. It’s OK to get help, especially with household chores.”

“Life will be more complicated than you imagined. You are here because others have fought for the privileges you now enjoy. Your successes and failures are not just your own but are grounded in a past collective struggle and are the roots for future generations. So, rise up, stand tall, and center your efforts on the hard work that brings you joy.”