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In 1982, Dr. Claudia Richter became the first woman to practice ophthalmology at OCB. She set the bar high as a widely admired teacher at Harvard Medical School and at Tufts New England Medical Center, a frequent presenter on the podium nationally and internationally, and a leader in the field of glaucoma, among other accomplishments. Exactly 40 years later, women make up nearly half of OCB’s practicing physicians, each with their own remarkable stories of leadership in academia, research and outstanding patient care. As OCB celebrates Women’s History Month, we interviewed Dr. Richter (pictured in row 4, second image from right) about the early days in her long career as one of Boston’s top ophthalmologists and what advice she has for women today.
Q: What inspired you to pursue medicine?
A: My mother was a nurse, so I was exposed to it early in life. In my teenage years, I was a candy striper at the local hospital where my mother worked. This became my primary high school extra-curricular. I worked there after school and during summers. And it was a good fit. I knew early on I wanted to be a doctor.
Q: Who were your role models at the time?
A: There were no women doctors, so I had no role models. I really had no good reason other than it just felt right for me. I was a really good student and I thought I was smart enough. I was ambitious and I decided I was going to go for it.
Q: What were some of the challenges you faced early on?
A: The first challenge was figuring out a way to afford medical school on my own. I had no money but I grew up in Texas, where in state tuition was very affordable. I applied to one out of state medical school, Johns Hopkins, and was accepted, but the tuition was $3000. I got into University of Texas Southwestern Medical School where tuition was $300. So it was an easy choice. I knew I could borrow and make it work.
Starting classes in 1974, I was on the cusp of when medical schools began letting in more than 2 to 3 women a year. So in my class there were 25 women out of 150. During this time I met my husband, (James Richter, MD, who is now a gastroenterology specialist at Mass General) who I had gone to college with. He was always a great supporter and made me feel that no matter what the challenge was that I faced as a woman, everything would all work out. I knew some women in medical school and residency who were not as lucky as I to have the support of their spouses or other family.
Q: After medical school you moved to Boston where you completed your internship at Boston City Hospital (1977-1978), your residency in ophthalmology (1978-1981) as well as fellowships in glaucoma (1981-1983) at Mass Eye & Ear, Harvard and OCB. What made you decide to specialize in ophthalmology?
A: I quickly figured out what I didn’t want to pursue, and found I was really drawn to surgery, so I looked at surgical subspecialties and discovered how much I loved the combination of the surgery, working with new ophthalmic technology and the patient care that was involved and I have really loved it ever since.
Q: When you joined OCB in 1982, what was it like being the only woman in the practice?
A: I really have to say that OCB was and is a wonderfully supportive place. When I was younger, the men at the time were encouraging and supportive. I had joined after having had my first child. Neither Jim nor I had family here to help with childcare. Jim was working fulltime, so I worked three days a week. It was a little lonely because I didn’t t have people around me who were going through the same experiences, but it was a supportive environment. I was and am extremely grateful.
Q: How did the practice evolve to include more women after you joined?
A: Ann Bajart, MD who had been at Mass Eye & Ear, came next, and soon after we were joined by Mami Iwamoto, MD, Laura Fine, MD and Tina Cleary, MD. The number of women joining our practice grew organically at about the same rate as the number of women increased in medical schools and in ophthalmology residency programs. In recruitment, we never looked specifically for women, we looked for good surgeons, good physicians, and good people. The women who joined us were hired because they are excellent physicians, not because they were women. They were the right candidates.
Q: You’ve held faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School as well as Tufts University Medical School and you have “paid if forward” mentoring numerous ophthalmologists, including many women, who practice in the area today. What role has teaching played in your career?
A: From the beginning of my career, I’ve always had interaction with medical students. It’s always been an important part of what I do and one of the things I find most rewarding. A story that comes to mind is when my husband was an attending physician at Mass General and one of the residents was a woman who was considering pursuing ophthalmology. He told her she should go and spend time with me and she did! That was Joan Miller, who is now Chief of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye & Ear and Mass General.
Q: What advice do you have for women who are starting out in the field?
A: In talking to younger women in our practice and outside, who are beginning families, working to grow their practices, and invest in their careers, I tell them that I never worked fulltime until my youngest was in high school. I tell them that it’s alright to take it slow, choose their priorities, and that they will have time for a long, varied, and successful career. They will be able to reach their goals. This process does not have to be and should not be overwhelming.
Learn more about our women leaders in ophthalmology here
