Woman Doctor Finally Takes Male Colleague's Advice—Not Prepared for Outcome
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Abigail Cantwell, a 28-year-old anesthesia resident in Portland, Oregon, never expected her candid retelling of being mistaken for a nurse to ignite an online conversation on gender bias in medicine. But that is exactly what happened after she opened up about her experience in a TikTok video on May 1.
The video, posted under @abbiecantwell, has been viewed more than 1.3 million times to date. In it, Cantwell recounted following a suggestion from a male attending physician who advised her to introduce herself to patients using only her first name, "Abbie." She did so with one family in an intensive care unit, who went on to nominate her for a nursing award despite the fact she had expressed to them she is their doctor.
"Love, respect, thank you, it's an honor, but an incorrect one," Cantwell said in the video, which she captioned: "Women in STEM baby."
"I am deeply passionate about my work in medicine," Cantwell, who is in the second year of her residency, told Newsweek. "And my lighthearted story resonated widely, especially with many women in the workforce who frequently encounter assumptions based on traditional gender roles."
The post quickly touched a nerve among viewers on TikTok, many of whom saw their own experiences reflected in Cantwell's story. The comments exploded with anecdotes from other women in fields who have similarly faced being misidentified or overlooked due to longstanding stereotypes.
"I had a male doctor 'mentoring me' tell me 'you should just let everyone call you by your first name, drop the doctor it's more humble,' and I turned and said 'ok sure so I should just refer you by you,'" one viewer said, while another added: "I have two women doctors who work for me, I will only call them by doctor in the workplace...They've worked far too hard to not be given that full respect."
"Yes it absolutely is an honor [to be nominated for a Daisy Award], but it is insulting to not be recognized as your actual role despite saying it clearly, another viewer commented. "Especially when that comes from a place of not believing women can be doctors."
"It is 2025, why is this still happening," another added, while another viewer shared a more lighthearted take: "I literally play Dungeons & Dragons with one of our surgeons and I still call him Dr. Patel at the table."
Cantwell said she was unprepared for the impassioned reaction: "I am truly flattered—and honestly a bit surprised by the incredible outpouring of kindness and support from the online community."
"It is heartwarming to see so many people engaging in a thoughtful yet lighthearted conversation about gender roles and recognition in healthcare," she added. "The response has been a beautiful reminder of the power of empathy and solidarity.
"The overwhelming support really touched me and highlighted the importance of recognizing all healthcare professionals accurately."
From left: Abigail Cantwell speaks in a TikTok video; and poses for a professional headshot.
From left: Abigail Cantwell speaks in a TikTok video; and poses for a professional headshot.
@abbiecantwell
While Cantwell emphasized her appreciation for nurses—calling them "true heroes whose compassion, dedication, and expertise are invaluable and deserving of the highest respect"—she also noted the repeated misidentification of female physicians as part of a systemic issue.
"This is a pervasive issue for female physicians, particularly those early in their careers," she said. "It can be disheartening when women in medicine are routinely presumed to be nurses simply because of outdated gender stereotypes.
"Women are capable of excelling in any role and it is vital that our professional identities are acknowledged correctly."
Her video has unintentionally become a prompt for discussions about how subtle workplace biases continue to shape perceptions in medicine.
While plenty of responses from viewers focused on the humor of the mix-up, the broader takeaway for Cantwell is one of recognition and visibility—not just for herself, but for all women navigating careers in traditionally male-dominated professions.
"This phenomenon reflects broader societal biases about women in healthcare," she said. "Addressing it is essential to breaking down barriers and inspiring future generations of women in STEM."
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