Conversations with Women in GI Christina M. Surawicz, MD, MACG on “A Career of Firsts” In conversation with Jill Gaidos, MD, FACG
MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER WE WERE LAST TOGETHER at the “ACG Bridging the Leadership Gap in GI” Conference in January 2020, Dr. Surawicz and I finally have a chance to catch up over Zoom to talk about mentoring, coping during the pandemic, and her amazing career of firsts. Dr. Jill Gaidos: In preparation for our conversation, I found a biography of you published in 1981 where I learned that you were the first female faculty member in the University of Washington Gastroenterology division, you were initially the Director of GI Endoscopy at Harborview Medical Center (the county hospital) then, you were the Section Chief of Gastroenterology there for 20 years and the first Assistant Dean for Faculty Development. You were the first female president of the American College of Gastroenterology from 1998 to 1999. Did you strive for these leadership positions? Were these leadership positions part of your 5-year or 10-year career plans? Dr. Christina Surawicz: No, it just happened organically. I never planned more than one or two years ahead and had not really thought about doing academic medicine. It was always, “Well, let’s just give it a try and if it doesn’t work out, I can always go into private practice.” But I did end up staying. When I took that first job, I did not negotiate for anything, though I did at least get an office.
ACG Perspectives | 31