September is Women in Medicine month, and this is a great time to recognize and honor the trailblazing women who have shaped the practice of medicine. The remarkable women in the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology have dedicated their careers to providing exceptional care and advancing the field. In this special feature, we shine a spotlight on four inspiring women who serve as role models for future generations.
Meet Shirley Graves, M.D., Linda Lange, D.O., Soleil Schutte, M.D., and Kimone Scott-Kotb, CRNA. Each of these women brings a unique perspective and expertise to the field of anesthesiology. Throughout this feature, each of these incredible women will share insights into what inspired them to pursue careers in medicine and the advice they have for future female healthcare workers. Join us as we celebrate the women of the UF Department of Anesthesiology and highlight the incredible contributions they are making to the world of medicine.
Shirley Graves, M.D.
Shirley Graves, M.D., is a professor emeritus in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics. She joined the faculty in the Department of Anesthesiology in 1970. In her time with the department, she established the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology and the first pediatric intensive care unit at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida.
A love of science led Graves into the field of healthcare, and a passion for helping patients combined with an inspiring mentor led her to become a doctor. She started out as a medical technologist but was unsatisfied with her career. She decided to challenge herself and go back to school for a Ph.D., but her mentor encouraged her to go to medical school instead. “It was a good decision and has been a trip with no regrets—my life as a physician,” said Graves.
Graves was one of five women in a class of eighty, but she never felt as though she was treated differently. She emphasized that though there may be many long days and nights with little sleep, the rewards are many. “Medicine is an all-consuming profession, and one must be willing to recognize and accept that,” said Graves. “I can only say that if you love what you do, getting up each day to do what you were trained to do is another day of happiness.”
Linda Lange, DPT, D.O.
Linda Lange, DPT, D.O., is a CA3 resident in our anesthesiology residency. She began her residency with us in 2021 and will graduate in 2025. Lange received a doctorate in physical therapy in 2009 and worked as a physical therapist for eight years before completing a doctorate in osteopathic medicine in 2021.
Lange has learned that prioritizing her health, self-care, and rest makes her significantly more efficient and effective in the operating room. She makes an effort to meal prep, exercise, and spend quality time with her loved ones. She utilizes services like online bill pay, grocery delivery, and dog walkers to accommodate her busy schedule. “Work can be stressful, so I try to keep my life outside of work as stress free as possible,” Lange said.
Lange urges young women considering a career in medicine to pursue their goals. “If you have a goal or a dream that you can’t stop thinking about, it’s worth going after,” Lange said. “Find out what you have to do to get there and just do it.”
Soleil Schutte, M.D.
Soleil Schutte, M.D., joined the Department of Anesthesiology faculty in 2021 in the Division of Acute Pain Medicine after completing her Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship with us. Schutte also completed her anesthesiology residency with the department. Before her residency, she trained in ophthalmology at Beijing Tongren Hospital and was a postdoctoral fellow in anatomy and neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine.
When Schutte was nine years old, her grandfather passed away from lung cancer and she began to dream of becoming a doctor, curing cancer, and saving lives. As she grew up and began studying medicine, she was disappointed to find that most cancers and many diseases don’t have a cure. “Medicine turned out not as magical as I imagined, but along the way, I learned that doctors can still help patients in so many ways,” Schutte said. She chose to focus on anesthesiology and acute pain medicine so that she could safeguard patients’ well-being during the perioperative period and optimize postoperative pain control.
Schutte champions the use of priority lists and focusing on one task at a time to stay on top of things in the challenging environment of the hospital. She also stresses the importance of asking for help. “I work with a group of amazing people, and I know they are willing and able to help me,” said Schutte. “Whether it is an urgent patient care issue or a complex task, they have never failed to help me one way or another when I asked for it.”
Schutte highlights the positive aspect of the medical field constantly advancing. “Medicine is ever evolving and will never be dull for those with curious minds and a desire to learn new things throughout their career,” she said. Medicine can also be a demanding field, requiring a significant amount of time, energy, and devotion. Schutte says that it may not be easy, but it is possible to keep a balance between your career and your family as a physician. “Nothing worthwhile comes easy but being a physician is worth it.”
Kimone Scott-Kotb, CRNA
Kimone Scott-Kotb, CRNA, joined the Department of Anesthesiology in 2018. Prior to returning to school to become a CRNA, Scott-Kotb worked as an RN with UF Health. During the 2020 COVID-19 surge, Scott-Kotb worked on the intubation and line service team. As airway experts, she and a number of her colleagues were able to step in to help with the influx of patients.
Scott-Kotb’s introduction to the healthcare field was through a two-year licensed practical nurse program at her technical high school. While she was in the program, a close family member experienced some health problems, and the subsequent hospital stays and interaction with healthcare providers opened her eyes to disparities in care. “I saw first-hand what could happen when patient concerns are diminished and dismissed,” Scott-Kotb said. “This led me to pursue a healthcare career where I could provide competent, compassionate care while making a difference for my patients in some of the most vulnerable times in their life.”
Scott-Kotb says that remaining calm and trusting her skills and experience help her handle challenges that can occur in the operating room. “Reminding myself of the core reason I chose this career, to provide compassionate care to any patient I encounter, has kept me grounded and helped me stay resilient over the length of my career,” she said.
Scott-Kotb emphasizes how rewarding she finds her career, and underscores the need for more caring and intelligent providers. She advises anyone working toward a career in medicine to treat patients like family members. “Treat the patients how you would want your family member to be treated, but also remember to take care of yourself so you can have the longevity to take care of others.”