Rita McGuire

I would say my success comes from the work ethic that my parents instilled in me at a very young age. The work ethics and the confidence that they also instilled in me - being confident and always asking questions, always seeking and trying to understand whatever I was doing. That was a big thing, to always seek advice from teachers, ask questions. I saw the work ethic in my parents and they instilled that in me, along with confidence.

To always be a lifelong learner. I am always in school or getting a certification to continue not only my knowledge in the arena that I did my residency, but to expand into new areas. I recently got a Fellowship in Opioid Use Disorder in the pregnant mom through Rush Hospital. I also am certified as a trichology instructor, so I actually do a lot of teaching, not only to medical students, but I teach cosmetology students and cosmetologists about hair loss. Recently with these new GLP-1 shots for weight loss, we're seeing a lot of hair loss in folks. So I'm always in school or getting a certification for something - just always be a lifelong learner.

I would give them the advice of seeking the profession that gives you work-life balance, and also is good for your mental health.

I would say the opportunities in our field now are much more than when I came into the field 30 years ago. There are opportunities in teaching, in administrative or leadership roles, as well as clinical roles. So the opportunities are much more vast now. When I came out of medical school and residency, it was pretty much you going to private practice. Now, there's opportunities not only in leadership, administrative, academic leadership, but also in teaching. There's another area where there's entrepreneurship, so being able to set up a medispa and to incorporate women's health that way. The challenges still there - the challenges of women in medicine are still there. We still are not equally paid as men. We still have a higher burden because we have children, and we're still trying to balance that work-life balance between home, work, and office. I think the ability now - like my daughter is a third-year medical student, and hospitals now, because she has a daughter, they have time where they allow her to go and breastfeed, and they have lactation rooms, all of that. When I was having my children, those were not around. So I think the big challenge for women and equal playing field is still there, but we have come a long ways.

In my work life, I think that empathy, communication, and shared decision-making with our patients are most important. Making sure they're heard, and making sure that you advocate for them - that's huge. In my personal life, I would say having always communication, open communication, and gaining trust. Being dependable - I think that when your family and your friends know that you are reliable, dependable, that you're listening, and that you are able to communicate effectively, that's important. Morals, values, all of that.