ADVANCING ALUMNI
Q&A SHAZIA SOHRAWARDY, DO ’17 – SUBJECT OF UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY ON WOMEN OF COLOR ON THE FRONT LINES OF COVID-19 by Meghan McCall In early 2020, Shazia Sohrawardy, DO ’17, Brooklyn, New York, was wrapping up her emergency medicine residency at Brookdale Medical Center. Dr. Sohrawardy quickly found herself working in the epicenter of the pandemic. Now, her experiences during those first few months of COVID19 are part of an upcoming documentary, “I’m Doing My Job,” a 48-minute film following the personal lives of six South Asian and Black female emergency room physicians serving on the front lines. PCOM recently sat down with Dr. Sohrawardy to discuss her experience. AS A SOUTH ASIAN WOMAN IN MEDICINE, WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU EXPERIENCED WHILE SERVING ON THE FRONT LINES THAT SURPRISED YOU? I’m a tiny brown woman. I’m 5’1” with a high-pitched voice. I’d be lying if I said that my colleagues don’t base their trust in you, in part, on how you look. But during the height of COVID, I didn’t get much of that. There was a sense of teamwork and mutual respect. Once you’re in the trenches, no one is thinking about differences or divisions. No one has time to process their preconceived notions. If you were able to give direction and make decisions, you were respected. I felt like I finally got to be in my role without the hurdles of breaking down barriers. YOU WERE STILL IN RESIDENCY AT THE TIME THE DOCUMENTARY WAS FILMED. WHY DO YOU THINK IT CAME NATURALLY TO YOU TO STEP UP TO LEAD DURING THAT TIME? Some of it is cultural. My family is crazy, loud and big. When we get together, there are 40 conversations going on at once, and it’s complete chaos. I really think that helped me be in a room of 200 patients and take charge. I also think that women are just bosses. We multi-task really well. When given the opportunity to lead without having to punch down walls, women shine. We’re capable of so much. WHAT IMPACT HAS PARTICIPATING IN THE DOCUMENTARY HAD ON YOU? Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of South Asian friends. Through the documentary, I met other educated, powerful, non-traditional South Asian women. First-generation South Asians struggle a lot with living a dual life, balancing the expectations of traditionalism with the realities of living in a Western world. It’s nice to have a network of women that I can connect with on that level.
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PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Participating in the documentary has also been very healing. I think I’m finally starting to heal from the PTSD that I didn’t know I had. Making new friends, going to film festivals and meeting people who have watched my story has been therapeutic. Throughout med school and residency, I put my personal interests on the back-burner. I feel so much more alive now and like I’m entering a new chapter of my life. The documentary has given me a way to transition to the next step. WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE THE DOCUMENTARY HAS ON VIEWERS? First and foremost, I hope it can help people see what was going on inside—that this pandemic wasn’t fake. Going through what we went through felt like this epic expedition or journey that has changed us. There are also many stereotypes of brown, South Asian women being quiet or traditional. I think the documentary does a good job of breaking those stereotypes and showing that we are leaders. I hope the film empowers all women to go into medicine and feel like they can make a difference and be strong.
“ Once you’re in the trenches, no one is thinking about differences or divisions. No one has time to process their preconceived notions. I felt like I finally got to be in my role without the hurdles of breaking down barriers.” Dr. Sohrawardy is an attending emergency room physician at Brookdale Medical Center. PCOM is a proud sponsor of “I’m Doing My Job” and will host a virtual screening and panel discussion this fall. For updates and more information on the film, visit Instagram.com/imdoingmyjob.
