'Sometimes people don't see me as the surgeon'

Elena Theophilidou is a dedicated surgeon working in one of the busiest trauma units in England. She grew up in Cyprus, where she always felt a bit different from her peers. While many girls enjoyed wearing skirts and dresses, Elena preferred trousers and was passionate about subjects like math and biology. A family tragedy deeply influenced her decision to pursue a career in medicine. Elena's parents lost their first child due to Down's syndrome, which left a lasting impact on her. 'That experience has always been in my mind,' she reflects. Now, as a consultant surgeon, she has achieved great success, but she often finds herself in situations where she must remind patients that she is indeed the surgeon. Elena recalls the first time she carried a bag, which was when she turned 20 and started university. She chuckles at the thought, saying, 'I wasn't your typical girl. ' Biology came naturally to her, and she excelled in math, but she often wondered how she could apply her skills in a meaningful way. The desire to help others ultimately led her to choose medicine as her career path. 'I still don't think of it as a nine-to-five job,' she explains. 'As a consultant, I've never thought, 'I can't be bothered with work today. ' Growing up in a Greek family, the death of her brother was a topic that was rarely discussed. Although she never met him, his death was always present in her life. 'It was quite devastating for my parents,' she shares. 'But I think maybe that triggered the idea of medicine. ' Elena's department specializes in treating patients who have suffered severe injuries from stabbings, car accidents, or other major incidents. Her journey to becoming a surgeon was not an easy one. As a teenager, she set her sights on studying medicine in the UK, which required her to complete A-levels in her spare time. Coming from a foreign country, she knew she needed top marks to be considered for medical school. 'It was a tough four or five years before even coming to medical school,' she recalls. At 18, she moved to London to begin her medical studies, and eventually, she had the opportunity to specialize in surgery. However, her surgical placements were not always positive experiences. 'Unfortunately, my surgical placements were all with, let's say, school surgeons who had different mentalities than we have today,' she explains. She faced bullying and toxic environments during her training, which she believes many female trainees can relate to. 'I know I've had a lot of difficulties that probably if I wasn't a woman, I wouldn't have had,' she states. Despite these challenges, Elena has high praise for her colleagues at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. 'We are quite lucky in the East Midlands because we have many female trainees and consultants in surgery who have served as role models for me,' she says. Elena's primary role is with the major trauma team, but she also works with patients who have acute surgical issues. 'As a consultant, you have a position of responsibility not only towards your patients but also towards your team,' she emphasizes. While she has never experienced outright misogyny from patients, she admits that she sometimes has to remind them that she is the surgeon. 'Sometimes they don't see me as a surgeon walking into the room,' she explains. 'I think people have a stereotypical image of surgeons in their heads, often envisioning a 'grown-up man' walking in. ' Elena believes that times are changing in medicine, and more education is needed to break down these stereotypes. 'In the last year, I've had a couple of female medical students come to me and say, 'Oh, I didn't know you could be a female consultant surgeon,' she shares. Elena hopes her story will inspire young women who aspire to become doctors or surgeons. She acknowledges that being a woman in her field has sometimes felt like a disadvantage. Growing up in Cyprus, she often heard comments suggesting that if she pursued a career in surgery or medicine, she would not have time for a family. 'Those ideas linger in the back of your mind,' she admits. However, she encourages young people to pursue their passions. 'If this is what you want to do, just go ahead and do it,' she advises. 'Find what you love doing day to day, because your career is a long journey, and it takes a lot of time—probably 20 or 30 years of your life. So it's important to do what you enjoy and then just go for it.