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Portraits from AAWR |
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Kathleen A. Ward, MD, FACR – 2002 President of AAWR
As the oldest of seven daughters, I met my first feminist in my father whose favorite quote was “blessed art thou amongst women.” A child of the 50’s and 60’s, I grew up in a family of virtually all women and attended a girls’ high school as well as a women’s college. My mother immigrated to the United States from Ireland at the age of five, brought across the pond by her mother who alone raised her nine children after her husband’s untimely death. From the age of nine until his five-year stint in the army during World War II, my father worked for the butcher next door to support his family of eight during the Depression. Both Mom and Dad unfortunately never had the opportunity to attend college, let alone medical school, but that never prevented them from ensuring that all seven of their children graduated from college, six of us going on to postgraduate degrees and all but one in education or health care. Growing up in a house filled with love and laughter, we never entertained the thought we would not attain our goals. From my parents, I learned more than the importance of love and education. I learned about flexibility and compromise, qualities that have served me well in both my career and family life. The flexibility I have found in my career choice of radiology has allowed me the best of both worlds: a fulfilling and stimulating career and a complete and loving family life. Working part-time in private practice radiology while my children were young afforded me the opportunity to attend virtually every school recital and little league game, as well as providing me the time to chauffeur my children to their many music lessons, choir rehearsals and opera performances. Part-time employment also allowed me time to become involved with the AAWR and my local and state radiological societies. Among my proudest career moments are my years as president of the AAWR and president of the Chicago Radiological Society as well as my recognition as a fellow of the American College of Radiology, an achievement in which the AAWR and its support were especially critical. I certainly would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge the support of a loving husband as crucial to both our family’s happiness and my personal achievements. As my children became young adults, with my daughter in conservatory in New York City and my son halfway through upper school, flexibility also allowed me the opportunity to return to academic practice and full-time employment in the department where twenty years earlier I had completed my training. I happily now find myself working along side many of the very same radiologists, technologists and sonographers I had known during my residency years, all the while time marveling at how radiology has changed over the past twenty-five years.
What would be your most important advice to your junior colleague? My advice to my young residents and junior colleagues remains the same counsel that I received from my parents. Flexibility is key to achieving career fulfillment and happiness in the home. Each of us must find our own path and remember to stop and smell the flowers. What do you like most about your current life/career? While we radiologists face turf issues from competing medical specialties, medical malpractice crises, as well as increasing insurance company demands and government regulation in the face of diminishing reimbursement, we must remember that we are fortunate to be able to practice in a specialty where the day is never dull and in a field in which we continue to learn and grow. Many years ago, I wrote an article for the AAWR focus regarding having it all. I firmly believe we can still have it all; one only has to look to our many women colleagues in radiology for proof.
Kathleen A. Ward, MD, FACR is Assistant Professor in Department of Radiology at Loyola University Medical Center
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