Celebrating Women in Medicine Month - Dr. Megha Suri

September is Women in Medicine Month, a time to recognize the impact of current and future female physicians and the opportunities that still exist to support and advance women in their careers in medicine. This year, as part of how we’re marking this important month, we’re profiling a number of female physicians from across Lakeridge Health to showcase the incredibly talented team we have at our organization. Our next profile is Dr. Megha Suri, a General and Endocrine Surgeon in the Durham Region and the President of the Medical
Staff Association at Lakeridge Health. 

Did you have a role model growing up?  

Before I knew I wanted to be a surgeon, my paternal grandmother was my role model. She was a single mother who raised her two sons in India and then immigrated to Canada with them. She was a woman of incredible strength and resiliency and I’ve always admired this in her. At an early age, my grandmother taught us the importance of finding our values and staying committed to them. Consciously or subconsciously, her resolve imprinted on me and set the foundation for who I hoped to be.   

One of my surgical mentors is Dr. Lorne Rotstein. He is an endocrine surgeon at the University of Toronto. Like my grandmother, he is relentlessly committed to his values and has an unapologetic desire to achieve the best that he can in his work. This kind of commitment and enthusiasm in surgery is galvanizing. Dr. Rotstein is the one who inspired me to pursue a career in endocrine surgery.   

While I was working on my Master of Science degree during residency, I was very fortunate to have been mentored by Dr. Patricia Brubaker, who is a physiologist at the University of Toronto. Dr. Brubaker is an incredible woman and probably the smartest person I know. She is steadfast in her commitment to the principles of science and the scientific method. Dr. Brubaker asks tough questions, has brilliant ideas, and brings people together to pursue these with integrity and zeal.   

Both Dr. Brubaker and Dr. Rotstein have left a lasting impression on me, and I still hear their advice and voices in my head.   

Did you always want to pursue a career in medicine?  

No. My undergraduate degree was in the humanities, and I thought I would find myself pursuing a career in philosophy or history. I went to medical school with the intention that it would facilitate my desire to study the history of medicine. However, when I did my third-year clerkship rotation, I fell in love with surgery. I like being the first person in the hospital and the last person to leave. I like working with my hands, having a problem, being able to fix it, and seeing the results of that. All of this makes surgery appealing. 

What has been your greatest moment as a physician?   

I wouldn’t say that there’s any one great moment. I feel a great sense of happiness and achievement when my patients come into my office with their families and express gratitude. For instance, recently, one of my patients said, “Dr. Suri, I’m so glad that I got you as my surgeon.” This made my day! Surgery is a spectacular thing. A stranger walks into your office and in under an hour, we need to establish a relationship of trust with each other so that I can operate on them. Being a part of a patient’s vulnerability and building that trust is a tremendous privilege. At the end of it all, when patients express gratitude and their families are grateful for this experience because you’ve taken care of their loved one, that’s the best feeling in the world. These are the greatest moments.  

What would say to your younger self that you feel is important for other female physicians to know?  

There is a big difference between the experiences one has as a student and the experiences one has as a consultant in practice. As a student, I believed that the world was this great place of equality and fairness and that if I just worked hard and did the best I could, I would be given equal opportunities. This is not true. Women in medicine and surgery must work twice as hard for half as much. There are numerous institutional barriers that favour men over women. There are overt and covert forms of discrimination and harassment. Women need to be aware of this and need to know that it is going to be a difficult road ahead. 

It’s crucial for women to know their worth and demand acknowledgement for it. They shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for their values, use their voice, and be confident. It’s equally important for women to know that when they do this, they may be disliked – and that’s okay. Women tend to want to be liked, to be sensitive, and not to hurt anybody’s feelings. I would tell young women and my younger self to push back, be strong, and stand up for what you believe in. If this results in not being liked, then you’re not liked, and that’s okay.  

It’s also important for women to find allies. There are so many smart, tenacious, and strong women in surgery and medicine. We need to support one another and find ways to prop each other up. Even though I’ve had my share of struggles and challenges, I’ve also had remarkable people support me along the way, and I wouldn’t be here today without them.   

What’s your favourite thing about working at Lakeridge Health?  

I like being able to provide subspecialty care to patients in the communities where they live. When patients don’t have to travel away from their homes and families to receive specialized care, it affords them greater comfort and support at a time when they are most vulnerable. I see this as the way health care should be delivered in the future – subspecialty care in small communities, especially as small communities are rapidly growing. I’m proud of how I’ve been able to do this by treating thyroid surgery patients in Port Perry and Bowmanville, which are smaller communities in the Durham Region.   

Where did you obtain your undergraduate and medical school education?  

I obtained my undergraduate degree in philosophy and chemistry at Queen’s University followed by a Medical Degree at the University of Western Ontario. I did my residency in general surgery at the University of Toronto followed by a fellowship in endocrine surgery at Johns Hopkins University. I also obtained a Master of Science at the University of Toronto during my surgical residency.