These female doctors have broken into historically male dominated specialties of medicine, specialized fields such as hematology, oncology, pelvic medicine and reconstruction surgery, child psychiatry, and nephrology.
The Fab Four is a bunch of extraordinary women who have dared to pursue unusual streams of medicine and owning them, making a mark in fields of medicine that have traditionally been considered male bastions. Even though they treat diverse diseases, the common thread that binds them is that they are serious and talented physicians, women of color, and definitely people who know how to let their hair down when the scrubs are off.
Dr. Natasha Dave, Dr. Vini Chopra, Dr. Swati Divakarla, and Dr. Shruti Murali talk about their inspirations, challenges they faced, and reveal to us their interests outside medicine.
Dr. NATASHA DAVE, M.D
Dr. Natasha Dave after finishing a Half Marathon 
Dr. Natasha Dave – presenting at The American Society of Nephrology
Specialty: Nephrology
(Nephrology is the subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the kidney)
Where: Strive Health, Miami, Florida
Why an unusual specialty?
Because of the patients! The patients are significantly older and the problems incredibly complex. In most cases you are dealing with multiple organs and balancing not just the kidneys, but in certain cases the heart, and it’s just a very complex field.
What excites you about your specialty?
It is a lot of fun. Nephrologists are a nerdy group of individuals who like numbers and equations. It is a fascinating field for innovation and a highly complex stream, which makes my job a lot of fun.
Who inspired you to pursue medicine? When did you decide to become a doctor?
I grew up in a town in California, where a majority of my parent’s friends were physicians, and I was enamored of that. Later, my father developed colon cancer when I was in high school, which got me thinking about pursuing medicine. Furthermore, my elder sister, who like me also went to the American University of Antigua, went into medicine. She is someone who inspires me a lot.
Did you face gender barriers and disparities? Could you discuss your experiences?
In the last decade, we are doing somewhat better. Earlier, just getting into medical school or even getting into certain fields, there were big disparities. There is disparity in the workforce for surgeries. You see more men practicing in these positions than women. The selection criteria have become better, but there are not just disparities based on gender, but also racial disparities.
Doctors are not supposed to have fun. How do you react to that stereotype?
I think it’s silly. Everyone is allowed to have some fun. Humor and having fun is a good outlet.
What are your other interests?
I like to spend time with friends and family. I am also involved in a lot of social media activities. I also contribute to two nephrology blogs. Travel, meditation, and running are some other activities that I enjoy.
DR. VINI CHOPRA, M.D.
Doctors in arms – Dr. Vini Chopra and and her fiance Dr. Nicholas 
Dr. Vini Chopra – treating with a smile
Specialty: Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive medicine
(Deals with pelvic floor disorders, including urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract disorders, pelvic organ prolapse, and childbirth-related injuries.)
Where: Northwell Health, New York
Why an unusual specialty:
I chose this field because I feel extremely passionate about improving the healthcare and well-being of women. We definitely have a tendency to put ourselves second after everything else: work, family, life. It’s great to be in a specialty that not only promotes the well-being of women, but also improves their quality of life.
What excites you about your specialty?
Most of the patients suffering are women who are over 60 years old, and it is nice that we can provide the care and treatment to them. Even during my residency in OB GYN I was very much interested in this field of medicine and I always wanted to be a surgeon.
Who inspired you to pursue medicine?
I always knew I wanted to be a physician. I also wanted to be the person that individuals came to and trusted, in their time of vulnerability while being sick, and to give them the best care possible. To extend my healing hands for them. It’s been a lifelong dream to be a doctor, and I feel grateful every day that I am in this role.
Did you face gender barriers and disparities? Could you discuss your experiences?
I wouldn’t say that there have been any challenges that are any different those my male counterparts face. There is a lot of diversity in medicine, and you find doctors from all backgrounds.
Doctors are not supposed to have fun. How do you react to that stereotype?
I would not necessarily agree to that. I, for one, am not overly consumed by medicine. But there has to be a balance.
What are your other interests?
I do a lot of fun things and hang out with friends, go on trips and let my hair down. I love to travel.
DR. SWATI DIVAKARLA, M.D.
Specialty: Child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry
- (Branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders)
Where: Capital Family Psychiatry, Washington, D.C.
Why an unusual specialty?
In college, I had done work with kids of autism and teaching underprivileged children. I think the interest kind of stirred from there. During rotations at medical school, I found that the psychiatry rotations were the ones that I liked most. I enjoyed the teaching experience that I had, and I got to work with both kids and adults. I thought it came a lot more naturally to me.
What excites you about your specialty?
Each patient is different, and I have to come up with a creative and individualized plan for each patient.
Who inspired you to pursue medicine? When did you decide to become a doctor?
Interestingly, nobody told me to do it. I just had an interest in science, anatomy, and physiology. In learning how the body works and learning the different mechanics was fascinating. Also, the time that I spent with the autistic kids while I was younger, I think gravitated me towards becoming a Doctor.
Did you face gender barriers and disparities? Could you discuss your experiences?
I would say it happens all the time, unfortunately. It also depends on the work environment you are in. Sometimes people or the staff in the hospital might talk you to a little differently when you are a female versus the male. It’s not overt, but it’s the subtle things that people do and the way they respond.
Doctors are not supposed to have fun. How do you react to that stereotype?
I don’t know who said that. I think we all have our way of enjoying ourselves. I don’t know who made up that saying; it’s certainly not something that I live with.
What are your other interests?
I really enjoy hiking, which sometime involves camping as well. More recently, I have started enjoying gardening. I also do yoga and work out and, though it sounds a bit lame, I do enjoy it. Most of the time it’s time spent with family and friends.
DR. SHRUTI MURALI, M.D.
Dr. Shruti Murali with her signature smile 
Dr. Shruti Murali trading scalpel for skis
Specialty: – Hematology/oncology
(Hematology-oncology refers to the combined medical practice of hematology – the study of the blood’s physiology and oncology – and the study of cancer)
Where: St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Townsend, Maryland.
Why an unusual specialty?
Disorders of the blood and their cure is an emerging field. It may not be a field that many people know about, but it is definitely a field that is most rewarding in the scheme of things.
What excites you about your specialty?
In India, a lot of people suffer from anemia. I was really inspired because there is a lot of hope and there are a lot of treatments that a lot of people don’t know about.
Who inspired you to pursue medicine? When did you decide to become a doctor?
My dad, who is an ENT surgeon and had a clinic in India, always had me involved in his practice. I was very fascinated by the field of medicine. I guess he was the inspiration right there at home.
Did you face gender barriers and disparities? Could you discuss your experiences?
Probably not so much now, but while I was studying and doing my training, there was definitely a sort of gender preference for men. This may also be because most senior positions were held by them rather than women. But I think that it is changing over time, which is nice.
Doctors are not supposed to have fun. How do you react to that stereotype?
Well, you have to make time for yourself. It depends also on the field that you are in and what you do and what you consider fun. I make time. I have a child and I look forward to coming home to her and spending time with my family. Our generation, I think, subscribes to working smart and having that work-life balance.
What are your other interests?
Hanging together with friends and spending time with them. I love traveling, but COVID has put a damper on that. I also like cooking. I really like decorating my house and arranging the furniture.
