The Words We Carry With Us

By ACOG Chief Executive Officer Maureen G. Phipps, MD, MPH

This Women’s History Month, we are reflecting on the women who tell our stories, who have empowered us, and who have inspired us. When I was just starting out as an intern, I cared for a critically ill patient whose words I still carry with me. After making it through multiple treatments and struggles, she told me, “You are going to be a great doctor because I knew you cared about me and you made me believe that I would get better.”

It seems obvious now, but hearing her words as a young doctor was a touching example of centering the patient and making sure that the person you are caring for knows that you care. She—and all of the other patients I’ve cared for throughout the years—has become a critical part of the story of my career as an obstetrician–gynecologist and has shaped how I practiced medicine.

The national theme for this year’s Women’s History Month is Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories. This March, ACOG wants to uplift the women whose stories or words have empowered our members. Email [email protected] to share a quote from someone you admire and, if you like, explain why it’s meaningful to you.