National Women Physicians Day 2026
On this National Women Physicians Day, we honor Dr. Gattu Panisri Rao, MDAFP President-Elect, whose path to leadership was shaped by the resilient women in her life and her unwavering determination to succeed in a male-dominated field. Her story reminds us how far we've come and the important legacy we continue to build.
"Growing up, I only knew of male physicians as it was a male dominated field. My father was a physician, as were most of his colleagues, and medicine was always present in my world. Yet the most profound personal influences in my life came not from physicians at all, but from hardworking, non-physician women—most notably my mother and my two sisters.
My mother worked every job imaginable, embodying resilience and proving through action that she could do anything. My sisters went on to enter male-dominated fields, forging their paths through perseverance and achievement. Although female physician role models were rare in my early life, I always knew I wanted to become a physician. I could not imagine myself doing anything else. Like my mother and sisters before me, I forged ahead. There were barriers along the way that I imagine most women in the field of medicine encountered but I refused to let them slow me down.
Over time, the strength and determination of those around me shaped my leadership journey, leading to opportunities such as board service, director roles, and most recently, the honor of becoming the incoming President of our chapter. Medicine has come a long way thanks to trailblazers like Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell and countless other women who fought for a place in this profession.
Today, my greatest success is not defined solely by titles or positions, but by being a woman of color family physician, a wife, and a mother to two amazing children—roles that reflect both how far we have come and the legacy we continue to build."
– Gattu Panisri Rao, MD, MPH, FAAFP, MDAFP President-Elect
Dr. Rao's journey exemplifies the power of perseverance, the importance of role models, and the ongoing work to create a more inclusive medical profession. We are proud to celebrate her leadership and commitment to advancing family medicine in Maryland.
Happy National Women Physicians Day!
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