Women have made incredible strides in the surgical field but are still a minority in the operating room. This episode features board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Susan Trocciola who shares her experiences with gender bias and discrimination as a woman in surgery. She always focused and worked hard for her career, but everything changed when she was given a life-threatening diagnosis. Coming to the reality that life is not guaranteed, she worked to achieve a better work-life balance by setting boundaries and prioritizing her wellness. Her experiences as a patient also helped her see medicine from the other side, changing how she provides care to her patients.