September 30, 2011 [9]
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LOCAL WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE
NO LONGER a BOYS’ CLUB Women who shine in male-dominated fields
Rosonke said. “She’s an inspiration.” West said when she was where Rosonke was, beginning her career, her age was Editor’s note: The Reporter visited with three local another obstacle she faced. At 28, not only women — Dr. Lauren West, Judy Jewell, president was she young, but she looked a lot youngof a Redmond concrete manufacturing company and er. However, just as she has been mentoring Redmond Police Commander Shari Shovlin Rosonke, West was mentored by a — who have thrived in traditionally malenumber of veteran doctors along dominated careers. Here are their stories. the way. auren West did not have it “I got a lot of wonderful teacheasy at the beginning of her ing,” the Woodinville resident said. career in emergency mediAnd while being a female doctor cine — but the obstacles she faced came with its challenges in her helped her thrive in a male-domiearly days, West said she also met Dr. Lauren West nated workplace. people who were “very enthused” Her first job was at a hospital in to see a woman in medicine. SomeYakima that served the surroundtimes being female also worked ing region and out of the roughly to her advantage as some patients 250 physicians, only four were were more comfortable having a women. woman treat them. “I was kind of lonely,” she admitted. “Even today, we have people who The 57-year-old said in the early really do, for cultural reasons, pre1980s when she was starting out, fer a female doctor,” West said. Judy Jewell women in medicine were still so She said in an emergency situarare some patients didn’t think she tion, people will usually agree to be was a doctor, but rather a nurse. cared for regardless of the gender of their West said one patient she treated even sent doctor, but they do try to honor a patient’s in a complaint because they claimed they request for a female doctor if one is available. never saw a doctor during their trip to the Another shift in demographics West emergency room — not realizing it had has seen in medicine is more male nurses been her. which she said is something else she and West is now an emergency medicine her colleagues must keep in mind if a physician at Evergreen Hospital Medical patient makes a similar gender-specific Center, where she has worked for about request in regard to their nurse. 14 years. There are about 30 doctors in the Something else that has changed for department — five of which are female — West is how she views her job and what she and they rotate between the Redmond and enjoys the most. When she was younger, Kirkland campuses. West said she really liked the drama of Diane Rosonke, who graduated from working in an emergency department, but medical school in 2006, is one of the remain- now she enjoys the smaller cases that allow ing four female physicians at Evergreen and her to interact with people since unlike a said West has taken an interest in her and family doctor, she does not see the same been particularly helpful in welcoming the patients on a regular basis. younger doctor into the profession. [ more WOMEN page 11 ] “(West) is a pleasure to work with,” SAMANTHA PAK
spak@redmond-reporter.com
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Redmond Police Commander Shari Shovlin, who has nearly three decades of police work experience, enjoys interacting with community members. She said women in police work was rare when she first started. “It was kind of new territory for women in law enforcement,” Shovlin said. “People had a lot of reservations.” Courtesy of Redmond Police Department
Shalimar Backman
Dr. Aditi Agarwal
The Closet
Avondale Smiles 11523 Avondale Rd NE, Ste 115 • 425-29-TOOTH(86684)
www.theclosetredmond.net
527358
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16150 NE 85th Street Redmond • (425) 558-0809