Rosy Thachil, MD, FACC, is a non-invasive cardiologist, assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine, and director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Mount Sinai/Elmhurst Hospital Center. She is a member of ACC's Critical Care Cardiology Leadership Council and is also actively involved with ACC's Women in Cardiology Section. Thachil holds certificates in physician leadership and medical ethics and is an MBA candidate at the Wharton School. She is passionate about critical care cardiology, medical education, digital health, physician leadership, and advancing women's roles in medicine and cardiology.

What advice would you give to women considering a career in cardiology?

Cardiology has often held a reputation of not being "female-friendly." Don't let that stop your pursuit of the field. It is an incredibly diverse and rich specialty, with everything from imaging to innovation to critical care to procedures to industry. You can design your career doing multiple things; this is one of the attributes that attracted me to cardiology. It's a long road but certainly a fulfilling one. Seize leadership opportunities when they arise! Your leadership can help drive change, improve patient lives and promote diversity in cardiology.

How did mentorship play a role in your decision to pursue cardiology and in your journey to this point?

Perhaps more than mentorship, it's about sponsorship. I would recommend finding not just strong mentors but also strong sponsors: individuals who will put your name in the ring, advocate for you in rooms you're not in and help you accelerate your career. I was fortunate to have cardiovascular sponsors as early as medical school who inspired me to choose cardiology. I stand on the shoulders of these individuals. Women often tend to be over-mentored and under-sponsored. While mentorship is essential, there is a critical need for sponsorship to bridge the gender gap and empower women to ascend to leadership roles within the field.

You currently serve on ACC's Critical Care Cardiology Leadership Council. How did you first get involved?

I first became involved in the work group before it was a formal section. I was intellectually curious about critical care cardiology and at the time was serving as an associate CICU director. I had been interested in the field since fellowship and was looking for a like-minded tribe. I helped with the proposal for the section and then later applied to be on the inaugural leadership for the section. It is an amazing group of physicians and allied professionals who are shaping the field by doing everything from cutting-edge research, advocacy, educational guidelines, webinars, podcasts and more. Learn more about ACC's Critical Care Cardiology Section here.

What advice would you give to FITs on how to foster successful mentor-mentee relationships?

These relationships ideally should evolve organically and be based on mutual compatibility. They should be people that you feel comfortable approaching and  being candid with. While your mentor doesn't need to have the same career-specific interests as you, they do have to be someone you trust and someone who has your best interest at heart.

Is there anything you would have done differently along your career path so far?

I would have stopped caring what people will think much earlier on and stopped apologizing for who I was. It's one thing to take advice from a trusted mentor or sponsor, but oftentimes we are bombarded with opinions, judgements and microaggressions. Advocate for yourself, advocate for other women, lead by example and challenge stereotypes. Don't let anything stop you from pursuing your purpose and achieving your full potential!

This article was authored by Sneha Nandy, MD, an FIT at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN.