Two local women Orthopedic Surgeons sending a message ahead of Natl. Women Physician's Day

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — People in certain careers would say there's a stigma surrounding female workers in STEM fields.

This Thursday, a day before National Women Physician's Day, two local female Orthopedic Surgeons are using the annual day to highlight how women make up only 8-percent of workers in the Orthopedic world.

CBS 12 sat down with Doctor Claire Shannon and Doctor Katherine Miller with the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach to talk about how they are using National Women Physician's Day to send a message to other women looking to get into mostly male dominated fields such as medicine.

When people say male-dominated field, some might not realize the extent of what that means. Out of the 22 Orthopedic Surgeons in Doctor Paley’s Institute, only two of them are female; Doctor Miller and Doctor Shannon. They say they are also only two of three female Orthopedic Surgeons at St. Mary’s Medical Center as a whole, and among other female surgeons in other specialties there.

“I think Orthopedics has traditionally been thought to be a very masculine field,” said Shannon.

I-Team:Customers stuck paying for non-working, unpermitted solar panels

That's why Doctor Shannon and Doctor Miller are paving the way for an even playing field for all women in the medical field. Both doctors say their diversity and fresh perspectives as women bring something new to the practice. They believe if you can handle power tools, have the smarts and willingness to figure things out, then orthopedic surgery could be for you no matter who you are.

“You don’t have to be a big, giant athlete. I was a musical theater nerd, I wasn’t a jock, and I’m really good at what I do. I think that if it’s something that’s interesting you should pursue it, check it out, try the opportunity. Don’t let someone tell you you can’t just because you look a certain way, or a certain height, or a certain size, you can figure out a way. You’ll probably be better than the big jock guy,” said Shannon.

“I just think that the more women that are in this field, the more it encourages women to come into this field. I’m hoping that Doctor Shannon and I being here will encourage the next generation of Orthopedic Surgeons,” said Miller.

Doctor Shannon and Doctor Miller say being a woman has never made them feel particularly different, but instead it's accepted.

“I think it’s fantastic that the two of us have the opportunity to work together in a group that’s primarily a bunch of older, male surgeons,” said Miller.

Both credit their male mentors and co-workers for making that happen for them at the Paley Institute. Doctor Dror Paley tells CBS 12 in a statement that, "Doctor Shannon and Doctor Miller were selected and hand-picked by Dr. Paley for their incredible skill as surgeons, their dedication to their field of orthopedics, and to become part of our unique institute and ultimately be face and the future of the institute."

If you’re a woman who is interested in orthopedics or any medical field, both doctors encourage you to reach out or come into the institute.

National Women’s Physicians Day is Friday, but if you see a woman in the medical field today then make sure to take the time to recognize and appreciate all of their hard work they do in this field.