TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – An oncologist from the University of Kansas – St. Francis Campus has been on the team for three years, but he’s been in the medical field much longer watching times change.

Dr. Shalina Gupta-Burt has been a physician for many years in many places.

“I’m a very lucky person, so what I get to do on a daily basis is meet patients who are dealing with one of the most difficult parts of their lives, cancer,” Gupta-Burt said. .

She has seen the number of women in the medical field increase.

“When I was in medical school I think 20% of the class were women and now I think it’s 50-55%, maybe in some schools 60% are women. Our lifestyles are changing and computers have made a huge difference and cell phones have made a huge difference. Communication and ability made a huge difference. I think demand can be adjusted over time,” she said.

Over the years, growth in numbers hasn’t been the only change it’s experienced.

“Medicine is always improving and what you can do for people today I couldn’t do 30 years ago and I’ve seen the growth, I’ve seen the changes that the adaptability of all the new methods of how to treat patients.”

She says she thinks the expectations of women and men are different, but they can provide opportunities.

“The relationship between a patient and a doctor is extremely important because it’s a very intimate relationship. I think there are times when we can all prefer one gender over the other and that shouldn’t be viewed negatively because you have to have that comfort zone, that ability to have that relationship,” a- she explained.

She says her goal was simply to always challenge herself and create meaningful work, which is exactly what she does now.

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