Heading to Residency along a Path Less Taken
Einstein’s Rachel Greenberg and Dordaneh Sugano, Class of 2018, are trendsetters: They’re headed for residencies in urology, a male-dominated specialty that is becoming less so. Twenty years ago, only 24 women applying for urology residencies were matched with their residency choices; this year, 79 succeeded, including Rachel and Dordaneh. The specialty still is mostly male, though, with 235 male applicants matching this year. An American Urological Association census for 2017 found that only about 8.8 percent of practicing urologists were women.
Rachel Greenberg, class of 2018, bound for residency in urology at Brown
At Match Day, in March, we caught up with Rachel to ask her why she chose urology. (Dordaneh was unable to attend Match Day—she was traveling abroad.) “I wanted to pursue a field in which I have the ability to help patients in perhaps their most vulnerable of states. Helping people manage issues that are particularly private, and sometimes embarrassing, requires a certain level of sensitivity unique to this field,” said Rachel. “It takes a special type of doctor to assure patients they’re in a safe space. You’re helping patients with quality of life.”
Of Mentors and Models
Dordaneh Sugano, class of 2018, bound for residency in urology at University of Southern California.Pediatric urologist Dr. Beth Drzewiecki, an assistant professor of urology and one of Rachel’s mentors, agrees. “During training, I couldn’t tell you the number of times I had a man leave the office saying he was nervous about seeing a woman at first but happy in the end. On the flip side, the trend for women patients to see women physicians is growing, and the need for female urologists is huge.” Of the 37 members of the Einstein/Montefiore department of urology, 11 are women—a commendable 30 percent.
Dr. Drzewiecki, who specializes in minimally invasive surgery for congenital anomalies of the urinary tract in children and in caring for children with disorders of sex differentiation, provided Rachel with valuable urological inspiration. “Dr. Drzewiecki is a meticulous surgeon who is great under pressure,” said Rachel. One of their joint projects centers on a rare disorder called mixed gonadal dysgenesis, a chromosomal abnormality that can lead to a spectrum of developmental abnormalities of the genitourinary and reproductive system that is present from birth. A paper on its phenotypes and physical manifestations—and how to care for patients who have it—is under review for publication.
Rachel’s other project with Dr. Drzewiecki is on children with stone disease, in which youngsters develop kidney stones, a painful disorder that most typically affects adults age 20 to 49. “Though we often think of stone disease as an adult condition, we’re seeing an increased prevalence in children,” said Rachel. She and her mentor are looking at its relationship to body mass index, socioeconomic status, other diseases and asthma, “which is why it’s a concern in the Bronx,” she said.
“As a mentor, Dr. Drzewiecki gave me a well-rounded experience that even included help with interview questions and attire,” added Rachel. She also cited other faculty members and “the amazing attending and residents I met at Montefiore” as role models.
A Tale of Two Doctors
Rachel with classmate and fiancé Julian HaimowichBreaking into a male field is not the only excitement in Rachel’s life. She and her fiance, Julian Haimovich—who matched in internal medicine—had been together since meeting at a barbecue on their first day at Einstein; their wedding date is in May. But as Match Day dawned, their future was uncertain: The National Resident Matching Program does not offer “couples matching” to applicants in urology (or ophthalmology). Rachel knew she was going to Brown University Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island—she had received early acceptance—but Julian had yet to learn his future location.
At noon, when the clash of the gong signaled Match Day had begun, Julian opened his envelope and found that he was heading for Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was thrilled about his match—“it’s incredible,” he said—and had no complaints about the 50 miles between their jobs. They’re connected by a major highway, with pretty towns en route. “Mass General was one of the ones we were hoping for,” he said.
Posted on: Friday, May 18, 2018