Regina Hammock, DO, FACOEP

Although women make up over one-third of the physician workforce, it’s all too common they’ve faced gender discrimination at some point in their career. Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island, Regina Hammock, DO, FACOEP, knows first-hand the challenges women in emergency medicine face every day.

“Preconceived notions and prejudices have been the cause of many obstacles. I’ve found that closed minds produce closed doors. In order to develop more possibilities in career and life, you have to find ways to open those minds first, then the doors can follow,” she said.

Dr. Hammock suggests a strong network of support and mentors when it comes to climbing the ladder to success.

“Fortunately, there are many good, objective people out there willing to give a chance to people like me.  Find them, develop them, and you can find your way through (or around, in some cases) those closed doors,” she said.

The fight for gender equality in emergency medicine doesn’t end at the caretaker level, and often presents greater issues with treatment and care of patients. A topic of which Dr. Hammock believes needs to be discussed more often.

“Heart attacks, along with many other ailments, present differently between the sexes, and symptoms are often either ignored in women, or are dismissed as being imaginary, hormonal, or mood swings,” she said.

And with the future of women’s healthcare resting heavily on our country’s current political leaders, Dr. Hammock believes this topic needs to continue to be challenged for the sake of every woman’s well-being.

“Women’s healthcare and their rights in general are under siege by politicians who do not represent us, but are determining the quality of our lives.  Why should this be, when we represent the majority of the population? Let’s talk some more about that,” she said.

Dr.Hammock’s mother, who mastered multiple careers as a teacher, an attorney, and a bureau chief, on top of being a mom, serves as a source of guidance and inspiration.

“She is a truly fabulous woman who has accomplished three lifetimes in her one, with no sign of slowing down. She taught me that people do not aim at low targets, so keep on doing what you do, and expect backlash, especially if you do it extremely well,” she said.

When it comes to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, Dr. Hammock is a big proponent of time management and developing an efficient and reasonable schedule for yourself and your work.

“Time is the one resource that you cannot make more of, so learn how to work with what you have,” she said.

Admitting that she lives by the popular quote, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” Dr. Hammock says it’s still possible to burn out, especially in a career that is so time consuming. Traveling, practicing yoga, enjoying movies and music, and spending time with family and friends are just a few of the things that she surrounds herself with while taking a break from the ED.

“I do things that are not my job when I feel I’ve had enough of it.  It can be difficult to disengage from work, but you have to do it, or you can be consumed. Too much of anything, even a good thing, is not good,” she said.

At the end of the day, Dr. Hammock stresses the importance of being humble and kind, regardless of your position, and to simply enjoy the journey and path of your career.

“Take your work seriously, but don’t take yourself that seriously. If you are doing this because you enjoy it, then enjoy the privilege of doing it.”