SGEM Xtra: Now and Forever – A League of Their Own (Women in EM)

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Date: August 11, 2025

Dr. Gillian Schmitz

Guest Skeptic: Dr. Gillian Schmitz is a board-certified Emergency Physician practicing at The Naval Medical Center in San Diego. She is also a former President of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

This SGEM Xtra is inspired by the 1992 film A League of Their Own. Unlike our previous pop culture references like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek, Batman, Top Gun, Ted Lasso and Mission: Impossible, this story is based on real events. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was created in 1943 and lasted until 1954. This league gave over 600 women a chance to play pro baseball.

For the SGEMers who may not have seen this movie, here is a summary. A League of Their Own (1992) is a sports drama directed by Penny Marshall that tells the fictionalized story of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. It was formed during World War II when many male baseball players were serving overseas. The film follows sisters Dottie Hinson and Kit Keller as they join the Rockford Peaches and navigate the challenges of playing professional baseball in a male-dominated society. With a blend of humour, heart, and historical insight, the film highlights themes of gender roles, perseverance, and the lasting bonds formed through sport.

Top 5 Themes from “A League of Their Own”

As chosen and interpreted by Dr. Gillian Schmitz. Listen to the SEGM podcast to hear her full description of what the quotes mean to her.

“I don’t have ball players. I have girls.” – Jimmy Dugan

This quote reflects how society has historically minimized women’s capabilities in professional arenas. Emergency medicine, like baseball in the 1940s, has not always welcomed women without skepticism. Concerns about femininity, perception, and acceptance parallel the gender biases faced by women in emergency medicine leadership today.

Even ‘proper’ women had concerns, expressing their worries about the ‘masculinization’ of these pioneer female athletes. Sound familiar?

We have done several shows on the SGEM illustrating the gender inequity in the house of medicine.

SGEM#352: Amendment – Addressing Gender Inequities in Academic Emergency Medicine
SGEM Xtra: From EBM to FBM – Gender Equity in the House of Medicine
SGEM Xtra: Unbreak My Heart – Women and Cardiovascular Disease
SGEM#248: She Works Hard for the Money – Time’s Up in Healthcare
SGEM Xtra: Money, Money, Money It’s A Rich Man’s World – In the House of Medicine
SGEM Xtra: I’m in a FIX State of Mind

“Why should you go? To say for once you actually did something… something special.” – Kit to Dottie

This line speaks to the deep calling many women in emergency medicine feel. It reminds us of the early emergency medicine pioneers who were often told they were wasting their time. Yet they pressed forward, driven by the belief they could make a real difference. That passion to do something special, despite the challenges, still drives many of us in emergency medicine today.

If you want to do something special, despite the challenge, then head over to FemInEM.org led by Drs. Dara Kass, Esther Choo, Jenny Beck-Esmay and the legend of emergency medicine, Dr. Diane Birnmaumer. We also recently did an SGEM Xtra: This is My Fight Song – FeminEM 2.0. They are doing some amazing things, advancing gender equity in emergency medicine, improving reproductive healthcare delivery in emergency departments, mentorship and being champions of change.

“You know, if I had your job, I’d kill myself.” – John Lovitz

This moment of dry sarcasm reflects the burnout and emotional toll our specialty can bring. But it also highlights that, despite the difficulty, emergency medicine remains the best job in the world for many. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Emergency medicine still lights me up.

“You gotta go where things happen.” – Marla’s Dad

This is the heart of advocacy, leadership, and frontline emergency medicine. Whether it’s in the trauma bay or on Capitol Hill, women in emergency medicine are making things happen and often leading the way. You want to feel fulfilled? Go where things happen… or make them happen.

“It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” – Jimmy Dugan

This is the quintessential emergency medicine quote. The job is hard. The leadership path is hard. Breaking barriers is hard. But that’s what makes it great and worth doing. It’s that difficulty that shapes us, connects us, and gives meaning to what we do.

Some final thoughts on the movie A League of Their Own?

The movie reminds us that history is full of stories about women rising to the challenge, creating new paths, and demanding space at the table. Progress has been made, but there is still more work to be done. This includes representation in leadership and issues of gender pay gaps. There’s still much to challenge and change, but also much to celebrate.

Emergency medicine has its league of extraordinary women, like Dr. Diane Birnbaumer, Dr. Judith Tintinalli, Dr. Dara Kass and many more. They continue to change the game, one shift, one policy, one pitch at a time.

What pop culture topic with a strong female message should the SGEM cover next? Send an email to TheSGEM@gmail.com with “Xtra” in the subject line. Who knows, you might be a future guest skeptic on the SGEM.

The SGEM will return to start Season#14 with a structured critical appraisal of a recent publication. We will continue to strive to reduce the knowledge translation window from over ten years to less than one year, leveraging the power of social media. Our ultimate goal is for patients to get the best care, based on the best evidence.