The juggle is real for orthopaedic surgeon mums

A cultural shift is happening in Queensland hospitals with more women taking up a male-dominated speciality. This mum is one of several trailblazers who balance their work with motherhood.

A cultural shift is happening in hospitals, with more women moving into male-dominated orthopaedic surgery, and a bunch of Queensland mothers are leading the way as trailblazers in the medical specialty.

Orthopaedics has long been considered best suited for big burly doctors with the brute strength for hammering and sawing.

Less than 5 per cent of orthopods nationally are female.

But the tide is turning and the number of trainees in orthopaedics is rising.

Modern day medical equipment means the surgery is more about maths, mechanical ability and three dimensional visualisation.

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital orthopaedic registrar Paula Jeffries said: “Orthopaedics is certainly the ‘trade’ of surgery.

“We do work on the tools, but what we do is mathematical.

“It may be a bit more physical than some other surgery, but women are more than capable.

“One of my challenges was removing a rod from a femur when I was pregnant.

“It’s challenging, but that’s good.”

Dr Jeffries is mother to 18-month-old Harry.

Female orthopaedic surgeons with their children (from left) Zhenya Welyczko with Aurelia, 3, and Alexander, 11 months; Catherine McDougall with Dudley, 4; Sarah Watts with Angus, 13, and Olivia, 16; and Paula Jeffries with Harry Hill, 1. Picture: Liam Kidston

“I am still in training and have had nothing but support from colleagues both male and female. I think it is important for young people to see women role models so they can say ‘If she can do it so can I’,” she said.

The doctor works 50 hours a week and every third week works seven days.

“As a new mum I am definitely time poor but that is the story for most working mums. I am lucky I have amazing family support,” Dr Jeffries said.

Zhenya Welyczko, mother to two small children, is an orthopaedic surgeon at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and a consultant at Redcliffe Hospital.

“I understand the need for women role models,” Dr Welyczko said.

“I was inspired by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Sarah Watts when I saw her at a function with her two children.

“She motivated me to get into the specialty.

“It is a big thing to have visible people to motivate and inspire, and I hope I can do that for others.”

The doctor admits life as a mother is chaotic but says it is all worth it.

“I have great support from family,” she said.

Dr Watts qualified as an orthopaedic surgeon in 2009.

“Back then I think only 2.9 per cent of orthopaedic surgeons were women, and thankfully things are changing,” she said.

“It wasn’t always easy doing the job and being a mum to two small children back then.

“I took them as babies in a baby carrier on my hospital rounds.

“They became very good at sitting quietly during my consultations. It was a necessity for me.

“The kids are teenagers now, and great family support makes it easier.”

Catherine McDougall is an orthopaedic surgeon at The Prince Charles Hospital and the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service at Herston – and has a four-year-old boy.

“Research has shown that women have been reluctant to get into orthopaedics as they thought it was a boys’ club, medics believed it was not suitable for females and that it wouldn’t fit with family life. But attitudes are changing with more trainees in orthopaedics,” Dr McDougall said.

“I have always felt well supported by senior male surgeons, but the job has its challenges.

“It can be difficult having to put your commitment in two places.

“If my son is unwell and I have to cancel a day of operating I feel like I am letting people down. They have prepared for months for their operations.

“But great family back-up helps with the juggle.”

Dr McDougall admits some patients have been a little shocked to find that she is a woman.

“Because of my surname I had a patient say they assumed I would be an elderly Scottish man,” the doctor said.