It’s Women in Medicine Month and we’re talking to several women who do and have done amazing things in medicine. From pharmacists to nurses, physicians to APPs, we’ll be introducing you to these women and sharing some of their experiences. Please take the time to thank and congratulate a woman in medicine this month.
Shannon Connor Phillips, MD, Intermountain Medical Group president, says her favorite part of medicine and healthcare is the people. The privilege of serving both caregivers and patients brings her joy each day. Shannon shared that “in these last few years, we’ve had the opportunity to make a difference in health and affordability in a digitally enabled and person-centered way. Much of that work has been led and performed by women.”
Shannon’s commitment to keeping positivity at the forefront contributed to her success as a physician and leader.
She says she’s faced obstacles in her career, but she overcomes them by shifting her thinking and looking at them as growth opportunities. For example, she mentioned considering what perspective you might miss when someone says “no” or when you don’t get to do something you hoped to do.
“Medicine is steeped in traditions, many of which have not served our well-being, our families, and sometimes our patients. I have learned we can and must be better and shouldn’t be silent when faced with disparities. If I say something, others will too.”
Shannon talked about what it’s like to be a two-physician family and the success of a great partnership—both Shannon and her husband, Dr. Mike Phillips, are proficient hair braiders. After meeting in medical school, they started a family.
“As newlyweds,” says Shannon, “we struggled to pay for a nanny because there are no time restrictions in medicine.” The long days and weeks required both familial and professional sacrifices but fast forward to today, and Shannon beams when she speaks of her four daughters and where they’re going with their lives. The oldest is a second-year medical student at the University of Utah. The second works in cybersecurity. The third maps neural networks to predict ocean waves around the world. The fourth is a mechanical engineer. Shannon’s work ethic and genuine caring for people influenced her children and continues to influence the numerous other women she meets.