Surgical residency, however, was a completely different ball of wax. I had entered a field that was completely male-dominated, and it became clear in the early years that I had to “be one of the boys” in order to fit in. There were definitely days where it was hard to be a woman, and where white males were clearly favored over equally qualified minority women. Things became hardest when I decided to have a baby during my chief year. For instance, my program director called my maternity leave a “maternity vacation,” and at least one junior resident made microagressive jokes to another women in the program saying that they’d better not dare to have kids anytime soon.— This week’s Badass Lady You Should Know, surgeon and author I. W. Gregorio, shares a moment that galvanized her understanding of feminism
(Source: katehart.net)
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What inspires author and surgeon I. W. Gregorio, this week’s Badass Lady You Should Know?
3 books:
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
3 songs:
“The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel
“Someone Like You” by Adele
“No One is Alone” from Into the Woods
3 artists:
Georgia O'Keefe
Monet
Michelangelo
3 places:
South Africa
San Francisco
Any independent bookstore (shout-outs to Chester County Book Company in West Chester, Haverford Children’s Book World, and Aaron’s Books in Lititz)
3 random facts about I. W.:
a) When I was eight, I accidentally dropped my glasses over the Maid of the Mist into Niagra Falls
b) In elementary school I was once in a Chopstick Dance program with Grace Lin (Newbery Honor winning author) and Alvina Ling (Executive Editorial Editor at Little, Brown). I can be remembered as the girl who dropped her chopsticks.
c) I went into labor with my second child the night after my first novel sold!
3 things she’d like to learn:
I’d love to be fluent in Mandarin (or any language, really), learn how to play the guitar really well, and have someone coach me on how to swim efficiently enough that I don’t want to die after doing a lap.
Kate: What’s the best compliment you’ve ever gotten?
I. W.: When my patient say they’ve referred their family members to me.
Kate: What would your superhero costume look like?
I. W.: One of my friends once had a caricature artist at her wedding who drew me wielding a catheter like a lasso. So I guess I’d have an all-white costume (I know, a pain to clean) and have a belt with a scalpel, catheter and Bovie electrocautery. And maybe a slashed-out “G”.
A young I.W. Gregorio takes on the world
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I. W. Gregorio is a practicing surgeon by day, masked avenging YA writer by night. After getting her MD, she did her residency at Stanford, where she met the intersex patient who inspired her debut novel, None of the Above (Balzer & Bray / HarperCollins, April 7, 2015). She is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books™ and serves as its VP of Development. A recovering ice hockey player, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. Find her online at www.iwgregorio.com, and on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and Instagram at @iwgregorio.
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“Badass Ladies You Should Know” is brought to you by Kate Hart, author of AFTER THE FALL, coming 2016 from Farrar, Straus & Giroux. If you add her book on Goodreads, she will love you forever.
This week’s Badass Lady, surgeon and author I. W. Gregorio, shares her picks for eight badass ladies YOU should know.
Stacey Lee - because her badass historical novel UNDER A PAINTED SKY (Putnam/Penguin, March 2015) is Thelma and Louise set in the Gold Rush.
Kelly Loy Gilbert - because her badass contemporary YA CONVICTION (Disney/Hyperion, June 2015) is one of the most moving and heartwrenching books you’ll read.
Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton - because their TINY PRETTY THINGS (HarperTeen, May 2015) is a juicy, pageturning contemporary ballet novel, and their kickass book packaging company Cake Literary is going to change the face of YA literature.
Renee Ahdieh - because her gorgeous, romantic fantasy THE WRATH AND THE DAWN (Putnam/Penguin, May 2015) will sweep you off your feet.
Mary McCoy - because she’s a both a badass librarian at the LA public library and kick-butt writer of the awesome LA noir DEAD TO ME.
Christa Desir - ( christadesir ) author of FAULT LINE and BLEED LIKE ME, because she is fierce and unapologetic and honest and so, so supportive of other women
Kelly Jensen ( catagator ) - because this [former] teen librarian behind stackedbooks.org has been speaking out against sexism in publishing for a long, long time.
Don’t be afraid to piss people off. Don’t let guilt get in the way of doing what’s right. And never be afraid to ask for help. As much as I think it’s true that one person can spark a revolution, I also believe that revolutions are achieved and sustained by teams.— Surgeon and author I. W. Gregorio, this week’s Badass Lady You Should Know, gives tips to aspiring badasses – click through for more great advice!
(Source: katehart.net)
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Badass Ladies You Should Know:
Author, surgeon, and activist I. W. Gregorio
Author. Surgeon. Mom of 2. VP of Development for We Need Diverse Books™. Former hockey player.
… Total badass.
It’s safe to say I’m excited to feature I. W. Gregorio in this week’s profile.
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