Celebrating Women in Medicine Month: Sarah Ronan-Bentle, MD

The University of Cincinnati Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) organization is committed to serving all female faculty and trainees from the UC College of Medicine. Dedicated to the recruitment, advancement and retention of all women faculty and trainees in the College of Medicine, the organization's overall goal is to advance the careers and leadership skills of WIMS members. Please visit the UC WIMS website to find a schedule of events and other resources. 

This month the AMA and AAMC celebrate Women in Medicine Month or #WiMmonth. UC WIMS has selected a few College of Medicine faculty to profile during September and learn what motivates and inspires them. 

Sarah Ronan-Bentle, MD 

Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine

Career Advisor, Office of Student Affairs/Admissions for UC College of Medicine

Director of ACEPA (Assessment of Clinical Skills using Entrustable Professional Activities)

What does a typical day for you look like?

The only thing typical about how I spend my days is that there is nothing typical! My schedule varies day to day and week to week, just the way I like it. I work clinically in the emergency department at UC Medical Center and at West Chester Hospital, seeing patients, supervising residents, focusing on bedside teaching of residents and students about 30 hours per week.

In addition to this, I enjoy teaching and mentoring medical students. As Director of ACEPA, I designed the curriculum and trained all the faculty preceptors for a new program we started last year in which all M2s are evaluated on their clinical skills using standardized patients in observed standardized clinical cases in the Simulation Lab. We do this to provide feedback to the students for use during their early clinical clerkships in M3 year. 

I also spend about 15 hours per week as a Career Advisor in the Office of Student Affairs helping students plan their schedules in 3rd and fourth year and with their plans for residency applications. Finally, in March every year, I’m co-director of an elective for fourth year medical students, "Get Ready for Residency” in which we focus on building confidence in students by working on their clinical decision-making with simulation and procedure labs and the logistics of being a resident.

What is your favorite experience working in medicine?

My favorite experience working in medicine is participating in the progression of learners from students to practicing physicians and leaders. I have worked on this transition as a clerkship director in emergency medicine, as an Assistant Residency Program Director, as a course director for the "Get Ready for Residency” elective, and now also in advising students on the residency application process in Student Affairs.

What is the most challenging issue you face and how to do you overcome it?

My most challenging issue is how best to develop and utilize leadership skills for the betterment of my department, our patients and our learners. I haven’t overcome it yet! Finding other successful women in education and leadership who are mentors to me has been invaluable to my development. Learning how to advocate effectively is something that I am working on. I brainstorm with mentors and rehearse. This helps me anticipate and improves my confidence.

What advice would you give aspiring physicians?

Do what you love! Continue to set goals and work to achieve them. This improves your own job satisfaction, has benefits for the teams you are leading and, most importantly, positively impacts patient care!