Women in Medicine: Flora Ma, PhD

What is a challenge you experienced in pursuing a career in medicine?

One of the biggest challenges I faced was the constant change in clinical placements every year. I could never build “roots” anywhere, as I bounced between various practicum sites across the Bay area (San Francisco VA, Palo Alto VA, AACI) every year, then across the country (Providence Medical Group in Oregon, Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York) for my internship and postdoc. As someone who moved to a completely different country, this constant shift in environments made me never feel “settled” during the thousands of therapy hours I accrued throughout my entire PhD program. Whether it was working with different patient populations, types of therapy, group sizes, supervisors and mentors I learned from (and the systemic cultures), every time I felt more settled down…it was time to move on again. It was tough. I’m glad I now have a place I can build relationships, routines, and a reputation. I’m glad to know where to go—whether that’s a hidden shortcut to the office or a local grocery store with monthly special—without having to use a GPS. I’m honored to work somewhere I can call “home” for hopefully the rest of my career.

What would you tell other women starting to pursue a career in medicine?

There’s a large support system here to help you. I’ve connected with so many mentors who I now consider my friends throughout my life journey. Yes, so much of what you hear about the difficulties are true, whether it’s in management interactions, office politics, and balance with home responsibilities. However, there’s so many amazing support groups, women willing to mentor, women-empowering initiatives, and other opportunities for you. For example, I’m part of a very specific Whatsapp group for Stanford women faculty mothers. It’s incredible that this group even exists! When you’re facing hard times, know that you’re not alone. As a start, anyone reading this can reach out to me. I’m here for you.

Here's advice to the young women in medicine reading this.....you career will go up and down. Your bank account will go up and down. The one thing that always goes down, no matter what, is time. You are losing the time you have left in your life every day. Every day. And the unsettling part is you don’t know when it will run out. With that in mind, what are you going to do with your time? How do you want to spend it? Who do you want to spend it with? How do you want to feel? What matters? Those are hard questions. They really are. But when you have the answers, it puts so much in perspective and gives you a clear, clean clarity. It gives you a fierce sense of urgency and help define your daily actions.

What are some of the things that inspire you on a day-to-day basis?

Innovation inspires me. Throughout my PhD program, I have focused on technological applications both in my research and clinical experiences. For example, my dissertation was on self help and technology integration for mental health among older veterans. I have also assisted a healthcare startup, Meru Health (now used by Stanford Medicine), with administering clinical trials and has a published paper alongside them. When COVID came, I already had telehealth experience and facilitating technology use to older adults, so it was a smooth transition. I’ve always been fascinated by the ways technology can help providers expand the reach of care to underserved populations. Even now, I am working on an LLM-based artificial intelligence system to help providers built cultural competency capabilities for minority populations (i.e., ethnic groups, LGBTQ+, etc.). Technology has incredible capacity for good, to amplify efforts of individuals at a scale that can actually attempt to match the amount of pain the world feels today. To meet people where they are, no matter where that is…and to say “I see you, and I’m here for you.” How can that not inspire you?

What specific strategies do you use to maintain your own well-being?

I try and stay appreciative of the blessings in my life on a regular basis. I’m conscious of the small benefits that people can sometimes take for granted, like having clean shelter, healthy food, and a safe environment. I have a loving family, meaningful career, and no terminal illness. Seeing patients every day that are missing those elements keeps life in perspective. It’s a daily reminder. I also pray regularly. There’s an emotional humility to surrendering yourself and your ego in service of others, whether that’s to a deity or to the people around you. Getting outside of yourself and seeing how big this world is with its flaws and beauty. It puts so much in perspective.