Conversations with Women in GI Identifying Barriers for Patients and Providers Jill K. J. Gaidos, MD, FACG in Conversation with Lauren D. Nephew, MD, MAE, MSc
DR. LAUREN NEPHEW IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Indiana University School of Medicine. While she was in medical school, she completed a Master’s program in Bioethics and during her GI fellowship obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Epidemiology. She is a transplant hepatologist who focuses her research on understanding disparities in access to transplant among vulnerable populations and racial disparities in hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes. I was first introduced to Dr. Lauren Nephew and her work when I heard her speak about the importance of mentorship in her career. We were able to connect via Zoom to talk about building her career in hepatology, the importance of having mentors, and her drive to continue to each about the importance of diversity in medicine. JG: I read that you have wanted to be a doctor ever since you were in the third grade. What got you interested in medicine? LN: That’s an interesting question because both of my parents are creative folks, so not in the science sphere. So, my exposure to medicine was not really until medical school. But there was a pediatrician
“I knew I wanted to do something people-facing and I knew I liked science. I knew doctors ask questions and interact with people, and that I could help people.”
that I was close to who I thought was really amazing and I said, “This seems like a cool job and he is really helping people.” So, I thought this would be interesting work. And I really enjoyed science early in school and I’m not quite sure how I made the connection between my Mars science project and medicine. We certainly weren’t learning about biology. But I loved asking questions and I loved inquiry, but I am not sure I knew that that translated into a job. My mom tells a story that the first job I wanted to do was to be a waitress. She asked me why I wanted to be a waitress and it was because I wanted to help people. I told her in kindergarten that I wanted to be a waitress because I wanted to help people. And I thought, waitresses certainly help people. JG: You go to a restaurant hungry, and you come out full. You’re better! LN: You’re better, right? And they do a good job at it and they work with people. And I like people. I knew I wanted to do something peoplefacing and I knew I liked science. I knew doctors ask questions and interact with people, and that I could help people. And I had a grasp of that in the third grade. By high school, I knew medicine and science were related and that there were three things that I could do in medicine: work with people, be a scientist, and help people. JG: So, were you initially interested in pediatrics because of that experience? LN: I was. I initially thought I would be a pediatrician because of my pediatrician. He was amazing. I didn’t want to transition. When he told me I needed to find an adult doctor, I was very devastated. When I started to hit puberty and was becoming a woman, he told me, “It’s probably time for you to find an adult doctor.” And I said, “Really?” JG: But why? Right? LN: Exactly, but why? So, yes, I initially thought that I would be a pediatrician and that’s what I told people for a
ACG Perspectives | 39