How have you been celebrating Women in Medicine Month? Here in the network, we’re continuing to highlight and raise up some of the amazing women in medicine that are part of our community.
For our next Member Spotlight this month, meet Marie Theard.
Member Spotlight: 3 Minutes with @Marie Theard.
Name: M. Angele Theard, MD
Title/institution: Associate Prof. Oregon Health & Science University
Length of time in position: Since May 2020
Do you have a professional skill or area of expertise that might be of particular interest to your peers in this community?
Neuroanesthesia
Are you the “go-to” person at your institution for advice or expertise in a particular subject?
Neuroanesthesia; Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity; and Education – not sure if people see me as the go-to for this last point, but I do!
You’re throwing a dinner party and can invite 4 people (alive or dead). Who do you invite?
- Thurgood Marshall (civil rights activist, first African-American Supreme Court Justice)
- Edwidge Danticat (Haitian-American writer)
- My husband, Thabiti Lewis
- Michael Pfleger (Catholic priest and social activist)
How did you maintain your wellness and resilience during the pandemic? Any tips to share with others?
- Rest, meditation, and breathing
- Exercise and walking……self-reflection…..and honesty
- Writing
- Staying connected …. Friends, family….!!!
- Fearlessness
It’s not over yet.. so this continues… as well as the discovery of other ways of thriving… and staying energized…
You live/work in Portland. What’s your favorite restaurant there?
My favorite restaurant is Andina’s (Peruvian food)!
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A Nurse
What do you do to turn things around when you’re having a bad day?
Talk to my kids and husband!
If you could only have three apps on your smartphone, which would you pick?
None… I mostly do not care for the electronic world however having college-aged kids their electronic comfort does provide me info which sometimes is quite beneficial during this time.
Are there any women in medicine who inspire you?
In addition to my 2 daughters and all women medical students and residents I have had the opportunity to work with here at OHSU and while at Washington University in St. Louis,
- Verna Baughman, MD – a Neuroanesthesiologist who was my first mentor - during my training…Her endearing support for people from the first introduction to lasting relationships is the same… it is about engagement, listening, understanding, and telling it like it is…..She provided me guidance regarding how to practice medicine with a patient-centered approach, succeed in academe, and at the same time gave me the freedom to explore and discover.
- Kelly Wallace, CRNA, and Chris Kaufman, CRNA – during my neuroanesthesia fellowship, they demonstrated Teamwork daily in the care of neurosurgical patients in a very challenging environment.
- Elissa Pirocanac, MD – former medical director of Oregon Anesthesiology group – who has and continues to be one of the best examples out there of leadership and innovation without forgetting the people who will be served and their needs.
- Shobana Rajan, MD – success in motivating groups to stay focused on ways of promoting different aspects of education has been inspirational….She has shown me how to fearlessly take my interest in education and cultivate and direct this love to ensure that all benefit from it in a most collaborative manner.
- Rebecca Harrison, MD – Internal Medicine – she demonstrates daily the importance of self-reflection and deeper dives for discussion and positive change through collaboration in medical education. Her accomplishments are substantial, and nevertheless, she is still is able to be self-critical and continues to be innovative, and always supportive in a critical and empathetic way.
- Tracey Straker, MD, and Monica Vavilala, MD – their many successes in an environment which is not always supportive of women makes their accomplishments even more noteworthy. Additionally, their support and promotion of trainees and junior faculty inspires me. They are great examples of what coaching looks like.
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Say “hello” to Dr. Theard here in the community! Feel free to post any questions you have for her in this thread, or direct messages via the community as also a great way to connect.
If you’d like to be featured in a future #MemberSpotlight post, reach out to Stephanie Weiner (that’s me!) here via the community direct messaging feature.
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Stephanie Weiner
Director, Digital Strategy & Engagement
Association of American Medical Colleges
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