<span itemprop="author">Kellie Lease Stecher, MD

Author's posts

This physician is done with being silent about women’s rights

When I was a 13-year-old freshman in high school, I joined the basketball team. I had always stood out, which I tried to convince myself was a great trait that made me unique and an individual. However, when I played sports, I felt alive. I had a coach…

Protect the women who protect us

On a typical pandemic Thursday night, I found myself scrolling through TikTok.  This has turned into the guilty pleasure of my life.  Sometimes you need something to do that will make you forget about your own problems and work.  On this particular day…

When a colleague asks you for nude photos

Dear colleague, Sorry for my delayed response. I didn’t know if I was going to follow up with you on this issue.  When you initially messaged on LinkedIn, on New Year’s Eve, I was holding my daughter.  She’s five, and she was desperat…

A very COVID Christmas

As I was running into the grocery store, I couldn’t help but take a moment to look at the light, the candy cane border, and the bell ringers stationed in front of the door.  For a moment, I felt like I was in some dystopian Hallmark movie.  I loo…

The myth of object permanence

I remember the sound of pure joy and laughter when playing peek-a-boo with my daughter.  She would look at me with her big blue eyes and giggle loudly.  One of the reasons this game is interesting to children is the psychological concept of object perm…

The quiet death of confidence

Have you ever walked into a hospital before shift change in the early morning hours?  The lights are dimmer, there is scarce staff walking to their floors, and people are counting the minutes until the new staff comes.  Most staff exist in this surviva…

Physicians choose love, science, and healing

Physicians dedicate their lives to serving their patients and the communities in which they reside.  We work tirelessly to educate and protect people, regardless of their background, political affiliation, immigration status, or gender.  Most of us hav…

Help us make equality an American ideal once again

As physicians, we have a unique perspective on racial justice. As an OB/GYN, I am trusted by women, the LGBTQ community, and people of all ethnic backgrounds to take care of them when they are at their most vulnerable.  America is at a health care cros…

Physicians are tired of being judged based on their gender

It was an average Minnesota fall day. I ran out of the house to do a 3 a.m. vaginal delivery.  I was tired, both mentally and physically.  Medicine has always been such a joyous calling for me.  I probably commit nearly 16 hours a day to my job in one …

The poignant message in the balloon

After the combination of COVID-19 and George Floyd’s death, it felt like time stood still across the Twin Cities.  As a physician, I couldn’t understand how a pandemic response could be partisan.  However, I became even more shocked at the …