Thinking Outside the Clinic
“Looking out over the next decade,” says Dr. Qaiser, “rheumatology care will be unavailable for some who desperately need it. To fill in the care gap we must establish additional fellowship slots. As one might imagine, this comes down to money. Large hospitals and multidisciplinary clinics often focus on cardiology and surgical specialties, to the detriment of rheumatology.
“In expanding our thinking about the field, it should be noted that rheumatology as a career is especially appropriate for working women and/or young mothers. If we can explore ways to accommodate individuals within the workforce by offering more part-time positions or other incentives, then that could be a fruitful way forward.”
Physician, Mother, Wife
In the wake of COVID-19, many have realized they want a multifaceted life in which career and family time are more in balance. For Dr. Qaiser, this was imperative. “I set out to find a field that fits my needs and those of my family. It was particularly important for me that I be able to care for people who may not have the best access to medicine. During my training in Pakistan, there was an abundance of patients who were underserved. As a result of that educational period, I feel that it is only natural to keep serving these patients,” she says.
Because of its flexibility, rheumatology is an ideal fit. “This is a family friendly field where one can be an active, involved doctor and mom—even if I’m on call, it can be remote,” says. Dr. Qaiser. “There is a set schedule in rheumatology, with a minimum of unpredictability. Rheumatology is also known as the ‘happiest specialty’ in medicine, largely because of the excellent female role models we have in our field. As I am training in a program with female leadership, I look forward to going to work where my female program directors, Samina Hayat, MD, and Sarwat Umer, MD, are perfectly in tune with my responsibilities and needs as a physician, mom and wife, while imparting to me excellent education and a paramount experience. Similarly, our program’s younger female faculty, Madiha Tariq, MD, and Kinza Muzaffar, MD, have embodied how to keep an admirable work-life balance with young children while excelling in [my] career.”