Women in Medicine: Dr. Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman
A double Cane believes women practicing medicine can lead to better results for patients.
In September, we recognize and celebrate the vital role of women in medicine. This is a moment to recognize the trailblazing contributions women have made in advancing health care and to highlight their significant impact in the field. To mark this occasion, we asked a distinguished Miller School alumna to share what inspired her to pursue medicine and why it’s important for women to be represented in health care.
Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, M.D. ’98, B.S. ‘94, is the department chair of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. She continued the legacy of her father, Anthony R. Gyamfi, M.D., who completed his residency at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Health System in anesthesiology in 1980 and stayed on as a longtime faculty member, retiring in 2021.
As a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at UC San Diego Health, Dr. Gyamfi-Bannerman specializes in obstetric complications, with a primary focus on preterm birth prevention. She works to prevent stillbirth and preeclampsia and with pregnancies complicated by venous thromboembolism. Her clinical practice includes caring for high-risk patients and performing detailed ultrasounds and procedures for prenatal diagnosis.
What made you want to pursue medicine?
My father, an anesthesiologist, was an excellent role model for me and was the impetus towards my decision to study medicine. From an early age, I was always drawn to math and science, so combined with the influence of my father’s journey in medicine, I was inspired to choose a similar path.
What has been your experience as a woman in medicine?
I’ve had great experiences as a woman in medicine, and I believe that part of it is because of my career choice to pursue women’s health. There are always unique challenges to women in medicine that range from biases against women to assumptions about them.
Representation matters. It’s important for the next generation to see that we are not limited in our roles by gender. The medical workforce should represent the population that we serve, and our population is 51% female.
Dr. Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman
I’m sure every female physician has been confused for a nurse or other non-physician hospital employee. I certainly have. But I also think women provide different perspectives to care which are important in a patient care team.
What makes you proud to be a woman in medicine?
I’m proud to see increasing numbers of women leaders in medicine, both inside and outside of obstetrics and gynecology. It’s also great to see women going to medical school in equal and, in some cases, slightly greater numbers than their male counterparts.
Women are also fantastic at multitasking, and many of us raise children and hope that they will also be inspired to go into challenging, high-functioning and, ultimately, rewarding fields.
Why is it important for women to be equally represented in health care?
There are so many reasons why this is important. First, representation matters. It’s important for the next generation to see that we are not limited in our roles by gender. Next, the medical workforce should represent the population that we serve, and our population is 51% female. Further, research has historically overlooked both women’s health and, especially, pregnancy care. The lived experiences that women have can better inform the research questions, develop better studies that include women and then provide the additional comfort that allows women to participate in clinical trials.
What advice would you give female medical students who are just beginning their journey into medicine?
I would advise that they pursue the field that is most interesting to them. Don’t choose a field simply because it is the most popular. Also, never allow anyone to place artificial limits on what you can achieve.
Tags: alumni, medical alumni, obstetrics, Obstetrics and gynecology, pregnancy, women in medicine