This post was authored by Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, FACC, medical director of diseases management at Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute, and a past chair of ACC’s Board of Governors. The interview was conducted by Christina Salazar, MD, a member of the ACC's Women in Cardiology Member Section.

As a female figure in the interventional cardiology community, my road was not always easy or clear. Coming from a family of doctors, I was lucky to receive their wisdom but I also had to learn many important lessons for myself. I wish to impart some of those ideas and lessons here, in the hopes that it will help pave the way for future generations of female cardiologists. 

Here are six key lessons for success:

1. Face your fears. As a medical student, I was afraid of a patient dying. As a cardiologist, I have overcome that fear. Cardiologists are constantly challenged with dying patients but have to remain calm in order to save a life.
2. Be a team player. There is power in numbers. Although we all strive to be a star or the captain, it is more important to play the game. I had to discover that the most important thing is that the team wins, not who scores the winning goal.
3. It’s okay to have a work/life balance. Be honest about what you want, who you are and what defines your lifestyle. It is okay to have a life outside of your career and you don’t have make apologies or make excuses.
4. Be open. Participate, be dependable and stay involved. By opening yourself up to every opportunity and working hard, you will learn fast and become good at what you do.
5. Trust your instincts and rely on yourself. After my first job, I learned that you have to trust your instincts. Your first job is not always your perfect job. If you rely on yourself and your intuition, anything can happen.
6. Nothing in life is ever wasted. When I started my career, everything that happened felt random and life in general was challenging. Looking back I can see how it all can come together. If it was a blank canvas with random dots, with time all the dots created an exquisite picture.

For more information about the ACC’s Women in Cardiology Section visit, CardioSource.org/WIC.

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