Interview with Dr. Rini Banerjee Ratan: Gender, Race, and Health in College and as an OB/GYN

I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Rini Banerjee Ratan, a Professor of Women’s Health in the Department of OB/GYN at Columbia University Medical Center. Her research and work relates heavily to studies of women, health, race, and gender. Her bio reads:

“Rini Banerjee Ratan, MD. is the Vice Chair of Education and the Berkowitz Family Professor of Women’s Health in the Department of Ob/Gyn at Columbia University Medical Center. She is currently the Residency Program Director and Chair of the Graduate Medical Education Committee of NewYork-Presbyterian/CUMC. She also served as medical student Clerkship Director for eleven years.

After earning her undergraduate degree at Yale University, she attended Harvard Medical School and completed her residency training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Her academic interests include developing innovative methods to enhance the quality of medical education. Dr. Ratan has received the Charles W. Bohmfalk Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, the APGO Excellence in Teaching Award, and the AMWA Outstanding Female Physician Award.

Dr. Ratan is a Fellow of the Virginia Apgar Academy of Medical Educators at CUMC. She has served on numerous committees at the NBME, including Chair of the USMLE Women’s Health Task Force, and currently sits on the Board of the NBME. She also serves as an oral board examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.”

What is your name? Can you tell me about your background? Where did you grow up?

My name is Rini Banerjee Ratan. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1969. I lived there my whole life until I went to college in 1987.

What was your major in college? Why were/are you interested in studying women’s health?

My major was biology, though I was somewhat low-key about it. I mainly focused on fulfilling the requirements, but I had broad interests in other areas as well. I was very interested in French, so I studied that as well. My interest in reproductive rights and freedoms definitely started in college. You might understand this, being from a similar background, but I didn’t have complete freedom in my choices. My dad, in particular, wanted me to become a physician. Despite that, I was drawn to women’s health. However, I didn’t know at the time that I would ultimately become an OB/GYN. Growing up, some close family friends were OB/GYNs, and while I admired them, I was also aware of how demanding their lifestyle was. My mom was particularly concerned about that, but my interest in women's issues and reproductive rights started in college.

Is there something specific about your personal identity that drew you towards studying women’s health rather than pursuing a medical specialty with a different focus?

I think this happened once I entered medical school. In medical school, the first two years were pre-clinical, and then the third year involved rotations in various specialties. When I started my OB/GYN rotation, I fell in love with it. I loved the topics, the pace, and the connections I made. It quickly became clear that women’s health was what I wanted to focus on. In retrospect, it made a lot of sense, and I realized that’s where I would end up.

Do you believe your gender and race have affected your workplace experiences? If so, how?

I’ve had a few moments that highlighted the impact of gender and race. One major experience occurred during my research fellowship in 1990. I went to Paris for my senior thesis, where I interviewed scientists and women who had used RU-486, the abortion pill. I had been working closely with Professor Etienne-Emile Baulieu, who invented it. He was very receptive to my work, but when he invited me to dinner, I started feeling uncomfortable. 

Initially, he had been very professional, but during the dinner, the dynamic shifted. It became clear there were other expectations from him, which made me anxious. After dinner, he insisted on taking me to his apartment, and I panicked. I made up a story about leaving for Belgium with my friends, and although he didn’t believe me, I was able to make my escape. My roommates and friends later joked about it, but it was a very tense moment at the time. If I had agreed to stay for a year, I wouldn't be surprised if he had expected something more.

That experience stands out as the most significant one, though there have been other smaller incidents. In my generation, we’ve had to get used to these things.

When you were in medical school, how common was it for people to study women’s? Did many of your peers have a similar interest in it?

In medical school, I think about 10 people in my class were drawn to OB/GYN. It wasn’t a very common specialty of interest, likely because it’s a challenging field with tough training and a demanding lifestyle.

Do you currently work with medical students? Do you see a greater interest in women’s health now as compared to when you were in medical school?

Yes, I work with medical students. 50% of my time is dedicated to education. I oversaw the medical student clerkship for 11 years, where every medical student has to complete an OB/GYN rotation. Now, as the Vice Chair of Education, I oversee the whole department. I’ve seen a rise in interest in our specialty over the years, though it’s still not the most popular choice. Many students are deterred by the tough training and lifestyle.

Could you please talk more about your senior thesis? What was the topic and focus of your research?

In college, every senior was required to complete a thesis. I had the opportunity to get a fellowship that allowed me to travel to Paris for my research on RU-486, the abortion pill. My thesis was both a scientific and social analysis of RU-486 during its first year of use in France. I interviewed women who had used it, health professionals, and the Minister of Health. It was a fascinating subject, and I found that it was more easily accepted in Europe than in the U.S., especially due to the cultural and political differences surrounding abortion.

Were there any surprising findings from your thesis, or anything that stood out to you?

One interesting aspect was how easily RU-486 was adopted in France compared to the U.S., where conservative elements opposed it. People in France seemed more accepting of new methodologies. Women who used the pill reported that it was a discreet and effective alternative to surgery. There were minimal side effects, and it was generally well-received. Even healthcare providers I spoke to were enthusiastic about its use, which was promising.

As a South Asian woman, did you feel accepted during your time in college? Were there spaces for cultural groups or ways to celebrate South Asian culture?

I felt completely accepted during college and integrated into my social circle. I never felt excluded. 

However, there were no specific spaces for South Asian culture at the time. So, my best friend and I founded the South Asian Society at Yale. This gave us a place to gather, celebrate our culture, and share it with others. My mom played a huge role in how I viewed my culture. She framed it positively, encouraging me to embrace both my South Asian heritage and Western influences. Growing up, I was always involved in cultural activities like dance, which helped me connect with other South Asian kids, and my experiences were enriched by those social circles. I also had great relationships with people of all ethnic backgrounds, and we all wanted to learn from each other. 

So overall, while there weren’t many dedicated cultural spaces, I felt a strong sense of community and acceptance throughout my time in college.

Can you please talk more about the South Asia Society that you founded? What did you guys do together as a club?

It was fun! We really created it for a bit of community and to celebrate big holidays. Occasionally, we’d have gatherings like when a friend in graduate school had an apartment with a kitchen. One time, we all cooked because people missed Indian food. Dining out wasn’t common, and there was maybe one Indian restaurant, but we didn’t frequently visit it that much. We had a Holi party and organized a little performance where people did different things. Mostly, it was about having fun and getting together as we all knew each other well and were friends. There was no political agenda—it was just about building community.

How has being South Asian shaped your life beyond college?

Being South Asian is central to my identity, and I’m proud of my heritage. I love the cultural aspects, like Indian artwork in my home. While I don’t think about it every day, I feel fortunate to have friends from diverse backgrounds, and I’ve always felt that these bonds are built on shared values and experiences. In college, I was the only Indian girl in my class, but I had an amazing chance to learn from a wide range of people, which was exciting and enriching.

Did people commonly discuss second-wave feminism during your time at college? Were you involved in marches or political discussions?

Most of my friends and I identified as feminists. One of my roommates was a Women’s Studies major and was involved at the Yale Women’s Center. I pursued a career in women’s health, and many of my close friends were also involved in political organizations, reading feminist texts, and attending marches. The political activism back then was more centered around women’s rights than South Asian rights for me.

How were feminist activities portrayed in the media during your time in college?

Feminists weren’t portrayed positively in the media. They were seen as being outspoken, challenging traditional norms like sexuality, equality, and equal pay. These weren’t popular concepts at the time. If you endorsed these causes, you were often seen as an upstart, not conforming to societal expectations.

Do you think college students were actively engaged in political discussions?

Yes, we definitely talked about it in college. Feminism was a major topic of discussion among my peers, and many of us were deeply engaged in feminist activism.

In what ways do you engage with feminism outside of your profession?

Being a feminist is a core part of my identity, so it’s hard to separate. I remember discussing with my children about what causes we felt strongly enough about to risk being arrested, such as abortion rights. I feel fortunate to practice in a state that protects providers, like New York. I’ve tried to arrange programs with sister programs in restricted states to offer family planning training for residents. My children have attended women’s marches with me since they were in elementary school. I’ve worked hard to raise them to be aware of situations where women’s freedoms are under threat or where inequities exist. I feel that being an OB/GYN is inherently tied to women’s rights and health. It’s part of my identity, so it’s hard to separate my feminist views from my profession. I work to raise awareness of women’s health issues, especially abortion rights. I’m deeply involved in advocating for these causes.

What do you think about the diversity within the field of OB/GYN, in terms of gender and race representation?

The OB/GYN field is predominantly female, which is a form of reverse gender discrimination in a way, though I don’t see it as discrimination. More women tend to gravitate towards the field, and many female patients prefer female providers. I’ve noticed that most men I’ve trained in the field end up specializing, although some remain generalists. It can be harder for men to build a new practice as a generalist because some patients prefer female providers.

Do you think this preference for female providers is just based on physical similarities, or is there also a psychological component?

I think there’s definitely a psychological component. People tend to feel that female providers are more empathetic and better listeners, and there’s data supporting that women physicians often give more accurate diagnoses. There’s also evidence that race concordance between patient and physician leads to patients feeling more supported and heard.

Do you believe that there has been a shift in the racial composition of the OB/GYN field over time?

Yes, I’ve definitely seen a shift. When I started, leadership roles in OB/GYN were mostly held by men. Now, the field is more equitable, though if you look at leadership positions like deans, they’re still predominantly men. I was part of a task force at Columbia Medical School around 2018-2019 that examined gender disparities in faculty, and the numbers were eye-opening. Although things have improved, there’s still much work to be done.

Can you please comment on the involvement of African American women in OB/GYN?

As a residency program director, we’ve made deliberate efforts to diversify, and I’m happy to say that three out of my six interns this year are Black women. It takes time to build diversity, but once you have a few people, others are more likely to join because they feel supported. It’s been a gradual but positive change.

Is there anything else you want to share?

Motherhood is a powerful force in a woman’s life, and it can shape her choices. I’ve noticed that women who choose not to have children, like my best friend who decided to remain childless, often face judgment. There’s a societal expectation that women who become mothers should make sacrifices for their careers, but when men do the same, it’s often seen as something extra. It’s an imbalance that still exists today, and it’s unfair to women. There’s judgment on both sides. Women with careers who become mothers often face criticism for taking time off or not being fully committed to their careers. Women who choose not to have children are also often judged, which can be unfair. These expectations place a burden on women that men don’t face. It’s a complex issue, but it’s one that needs more attention in today’s conversations. I didn’t notice these issues being discussed in college as much, but over time, I’ve definitely come to realize how society views professional women with children. I’ve experienced it personally and seen it in the media, where women often feel caught between their career aspirations and societal expectations around motherhood.