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Women in pediatrics: The heart of children’s healthcare

By Carla-Ioana Gheroghe


When you think of pediatrics — the world of tiny heartbeats, first steps, neverending imagination and innocence — there's a good chance the first thing that comes to your mind is the gentle, caring face of a woman. And it’s no coincidence. Women have become the driving force in this vital field of medicine, not just in numbers, but also in innovation, leadership, and, most important, compassion.


From barriers to breakthroughs

It wasn’t always this way. For much of medical history, women were disregarded— denied entry to top medical schools, overlooked in hospitals, and forced to join less ”tough” specialties. But representatives like Dr. Sara Josephine Baker who revolutionized public health for children in New York City and Dr. Helen Taussig, a founder of pediatric cardiology, proved early on that women belonged not just in medicine, but at its forefront.


A field where women lead

Fast forward to today, pediatrics is one of the few medical specialties where women outnumber men. According to the American Medical Association, 73.6% of pediatricians worldwide are women, which makes pediatrics the second most women-represented field in medicine, after gynecology. Many are drawn to the specialty’s focus on prevention, long-term care, and family connection — but their impact goes far beyond.


Dr. Sara Josephine Baker: A pioneer for children’s health 

Working in the city's poorest neighborhoods, Dr. Baker taught hygiene education to mothers, trained midwives, and established the first programs for well-baby care — including free clinics and milk stations. She also helped identify and track down the typhoid fever, highlighting her role in both pediatrics and disease prevention. Her work laid the foundation for modern public health pediatrics. She wasn't just treating illness — she was preventing it, changing the way cities cared for their youngest citizens. 


The future is bright — and female

Women have helped redefine what it means to be a pediatrician — blending science with empathy, leadership with collaboration. They’re not just caring for children; they’re reimagining the systems that support them.

As medicine evolves, pediatrics stands as a shining example of what happens when women lead with both heart and skill. The future of children's healthcare is in good hands — and they’re often women’s hands.



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