Appreciating Women Surgeons Who Practice at ECRMC

If you have surgical care in the Imperial Valley, one of the community's talented female surgeons may perform your procedure. Women surgeons performed more than 3,000 procedures at El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) last year. The statistic is impressive in a career where about 80 percent of their surgeon colleagues are men.

Becoming a surgeon requires earning excellent grades while completing a four-year bachelor's degree followed by a four-year doctorate of medicine degree. Then, the new medical school graduates must progress through a four- or five-year residency. The residency experiences are legendary as grueling ordeals. The hours are long, the mentoring doctors are often direct and demanding, and the workloads are weighty.
"We are so grateful to have so many female surgeons on our medical staff," says CEO Pablo Velez. "It's very impressive that these talented doctors choose to bring their 12-plus years of challenging training and highly unique skill to the Imperial Valley. Every day, numerous community members reap the benefits from their preparation and compassion. We're fortunate."

While women surgeons are fewer in number globally and in the United States, their ranks are growing. More females are choosing to complete residencies in disciplines such as ophthalmology, general surgery, ear, nose and throat, heart surgery and urology.

The female surgeons at ECRMC include OB-GYN Dr. Lisa Bean, urologist Dr. Elana Godebu (not pictured), and general surgeons Drs. Seung Gwon, Leah Farinas and Stephanie Woodward. With each successful surgery, these dedicated specialists continue defining the landscape of surgical care, suggesting that many future leaps in medical excellence will come from female innovation, work and talent.
Medical studies have shown that women in surgery have excellent outcomes. In addition, their patients often rank them high in patient satisfaction.

"I think the advantage I bring to the table as a female surgeon is not only the expertise of advanced surgical skills and competence with cutting edge technologies, but the inherent ability to really listen to patients and make them feel heard," says Dr. Woodward. "All surgeons learn operative techniques and evidence-based medicine over time. But nurturing characteristics, attention to detail and passion for the profession are innate qualities that have led me, as well as other female surgeons, to provide the best outcomes for our patients."

Fortunately, more women medical school graduates are choosing surgical residencies. In 2000, 14 percent of surgical residents were females. As of 2023, that number had more than tripled to 49 percent. Women are also growing the ranks of future orthopedic, eye, heart and brain surgeons.

Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Lisa Bean practices at Innercare in Calexico and performs surgery at ECRMC. Her outlook is optimistic. "The future of health care in Imperial Valley will continue to include an enthusiastic group of bright and capable female surgeons. To our young women here in the valley who excel at math and science, I encourage you to pursue a career in medicine. Our community needs you."