Surgeon by Day, Mom All Day
Written by Nandhini Kothapalli, Young Professionals Intern, UN Women USA LA
Been there, done that. It takes a lot for one to reach a point where they can move past all midlife crises and reflect on their past with pride. Challenges, time management, dedication, passion, and inspiration are all part of the package deal that comes with being a neurosurgeon. Dr. Betsy Grunch, MD is a dedicated neurosurgeon, even recognized by Metro Atlanta’s Top Physicians, for her accomplishments in her field.
Going back to the basics, Dr. Grunch first became interested in the medical field due to her role model, her mother. Growing up Dr. Grunch did not know any women in the medical field. However, her mother was a police officer in the 90s and was in a very male dominated field. She was inspired by her mother’s courage and resilience as she did not let gender stigmas stop her. Her mother was the epitome of breaking norms and an inspiration for Dr. Grunch. Things took a turn when her mother became paralyzed in the line of duty that altered Dr. Grunch’s entire perspective on life and her future. She wanted to figure out why and that is where her interest in spinal cord injuries began. She yearned to figure out why this could happen to someone and how an entire life could be changed. She wanted to help those like her mom, those that were the coolest adults in the world, but were met with medical difficulties. With motivation from her own mother, Dr. Grunch also pointed out how it all comes down to a mindset. It is important to always believe in yourself, and have an “I can do this,” mindset. Role models, mentors, and mindsets, the starter kit to surviving through a medical career pathway.
The most gratifying part of her day is coming home to her children, tucking them into bed, and being there for them in all ways possible. One of the most common hesitations of women in the medical field is the idea that they will not be able to have a full fledged family life. However, when asked if Dr. Grunch herself thinks if the American healthcare system is biased against women, she replied that it is not necessarily. Breaking this down, she explains how the way the system is set up is just harder for women to “want to do those things,” or get into the medical field, especially surgical subspecialities. In the prime time years when women can begin to set up families, the medical career pathway requires utmost attention, dedication, and hard work, but it could be made more supportive. She highlights how it can be a very toxic and negative pathway , but “hope[s] that as we grow we can change that face of healthcare and healthcare training to make it more accommodating.” Yet, Dr. Grunch is the living proof that you can have a balance between personal and professional life if you so choose. She dedicates herself to her career and kids, somedays one more than the other, but with time she has learned how to do both and persevere through all the challenges. “Mom-guilt” is something bound to happen but it is knowing that you give it your all that matters. To all those aspiring and wishing, you can be a mom and doctor, you just have to will it.
More than being a mom and doctor (as if those are easy accomplishments), Dr. Grunch is also a Tik Tok star. While she does also stay updated and true to Tik Tok nature with dances and fun trends, the trademark part of her page is the weekly case studies. Her case studies are something she started to differentiate herself from all the general medical professionals on Tik Tok. She really likes to teach and wanted to use social media as a platform to teach and reach a wide audience. Every Sunday a new case study goes up, a response posted on Mondays. On camera and off camera Dr. Grunch remains genuine and open with her staff. She wants to be supportive to her colleagues, herself, women, upcoming pre-meds, and anybody that is lost. She aims to provide a space of inspiration and guidance on her Instagram and Tik Tok (@ladyspinedoc). Her two cents to anybody would be not be too hard on yourself and that there is immense competition with a false perspective of perfection being a goal. She emphasizes that it is okay to stumble and with years of growth you will reach confidence and success. Her final words of advice are: “Grow together, [try] to be supportive and it will help you grow far in all aspects of your life.”
