New OB-GYN chief at Highland Hospital talks about her career, new responsibilities and background in nursing — and compares practicing in Rochester and Syracuse
By Chris Motola
Q: How long have you been part of the UR system?
A: I started in the UR system when I came here for my OB-GYN residency which was between 1996 and 2000. From 2000 to 2007 I was part of a private practice that worked out of Strong Memorial Hospital. I spent some time in Syracuse, which is my hometown. That was from 2007 to 2013. And then I eventually came back over to the Highland system from around 2013 on.
Q: When did you become interested in taking an administrative role?
A: It was over the last year or two; hard to believe it’s almost been a full year. There were times I was looking into it in the past but it just wasn’t right for that phase of my life. We had this position open for a little bit of time and, after seeing what the needs of the department were, I realized that this was the time I was ready to work at a different level and promote the department and the doctors working here, to continue the high-quality care that we’re known for.
Q: At the time you took over the department what did you think it was doing well and what do you think needed improvement?
A: Sometimes when we’re discussing this department people just think of the birthing center and our support for families as they’re going through the process of delivery, but there’s also the GYN care that happens here, the GYN-oncology that happens here, occasionally urology comes over as well as high-risk docs who work out of the physician office building. So there’s a great depth to it, which is one of its great strengths. So we’ve got lots of people with very different strengths working together on a daily basis. Personally, for me, I had to learn a different role and look at the whole process from a different point of view to see which parts were working well, who were the key players and finding efficiencies and things like that. So now I’m seeing what I can do to improve communications and efficiencies. Nothing I would characterize as a problem necessarily, but there’s always room to improve.
Q: Having been with Highland for so long, were there any challenges in becoming a supervisor of your colleagues?
A: I have not found it to be difficult. I’ve been very supportive of my faculty, staff and coworkers. When I brought this to forefront I was grateful and humbled by the support that I received during the adjustment period. I’ve spent a lot of time just listening to what the individual needs are and looking for the trend lines and starting to find ways to move in a direction that helps everyone succeed.
Q: How are you dividing your time between administrative and clinical duties?
A: So it’s about 50-50 right now. Clinical takes up about two, two-and-a-half days each week, which I’m thankful for because I really, really enjoy that aspect and it’s what I’ve done for the first part of my career. I’m glad to still have that opportunity. And the rest is filled with the different administrative concerns and just being in touch with the quality process here at the hospital and continuing the collaboration that’s so important to all the different divisions here.
Q: You were a nurse before you were a physician. What made you want to make that transition?
A: I was! I graduated from nursing school in 1987. I worked five years full time as a nurse. During that time I did go back to school to finish up some of the prerequisites for my program and during med school I actually worked as a nurse as a side gig. The nurse practitioner paths weren’t as well defined at the time as they are now. If you moved on to get your master’s it was more educationally driven and moved you farther away from the bedside and the patient. I looked at my options and decided this is what was best for me.
Q: Nowadays how would you advise a nurse to decide between becoming a nurse practitioner or a physician?
A: What’s available today is completely different than what was available in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s. What nurse practitioners can do now in terms of their independence and ability to care for patients was only just starting to develop. There’s a difference in thinking between nursing and medicine. Both are correct. Time and treasure devoted to the professions is different and that’s often a deciding factor. But there is a difference in both the training and how you approach patient care.
Q: Having worked in the medical industries in both Rochester and Syracuse have you noticed any cultural differences in how they operate despite being as close as they are geographically?
A: They are geographically close, but there are cultural differences. I’ve always thought there was a divide about halfway through Rochester where it becomes more Midwestern as you move toward Buffalo and more New York City as you move east. I grew up in Syracuse. My family lives there. I’ve lived in Buffalo. I went to med school there. They’re all different places. The way people work together in Rochester is very uniquely Rochester. Everyone’s common goal is what’s best for the patient and how we can all work together to make it happen in the smoothest way possible. That’s a hallmark of the care here. It’s a very strong sense of collaboration. The different departments all work together. We’re all very dependent on each other and it’s appreciated. If I’m doing my job well and you’re doing your job well and we’re there to help each other, it’s a great experience.
Lifelines
Name: Mary Wilsch, M.D.
Position: Chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Highland Hospital
Hometown: Syracuse
Education: SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; residency in obstetrics and gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 1997 – 2000; internship in obstetrics and gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 1996 – 1997; bachelor’s degree in nursing from D’Youville College
Affiliations: University of Rochester medical system
Organizations: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Family: Spouse; two children
Hobbies: Camping, getting away