My MUSE | Dr. Amelia Ryan
Hello everyone,
Olivia here, to introduce you to this week’s MyMUSE: the driven, compassionate and utterly impressive, Dr. Amelia Ryan.
As a highly sought after Women’s Health specialist, a co-owner of a private gynaecology practice and a loving mum-of-three, Amelia brings a whole new meaning to the word busy. Following years of study, training and delivering babies, Amelia now channels her skills towards alleviating the pain and suffering caused by endometriosis – a condition that affects so many. When she’s not out there changing women’s lives, Amelia adores spending quality time with her husband and their three beautiful children.
A deeply inspiring member of our MUSE community, Amelia is everything you could want in a muse. A big believer in setting a great example for her children, she works hard, prioritises the important moments and is not afraid to outsource. She’s passionate and engaging, with an innately humble nature. Intelligent and honest with a classically chic and understated style. She is, in a word, incredible.
I sat down with Amelia to talk women’s health, sleep deprivation and the power of guilt-free prioritising.
Amelia, hello! You've had an incredible career so far – one that has no doubt required a lot of focus and hard work. Can you tell us a bit about your journey?
I went to medical school at Otago University and, after working in Auckland for a few years and a bit of extra study, moved to Melbourne to undertake my specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. After 7 years away, I moved home just before COVID to take up a public appointment as a gynaecologist and endometriosis specialist at North Shore Hospital. Last year, I started my own private gynaecology practice, Advanced Gynaecology Auckland (AGA), along with 2 other amazing gynaecologists, and now split my time between my public role and private practice.
What do you love most about your job? What’s the biggest challenge?
I chose Obstetrics and Gynaecology as my specialty because of the babies. It’s always the babies! But I was also drawn to the variety of work – performing surgery, delivering babies, doing ultrasounds, talking to patients in clinic and performing lots of different procedures.
Over time, my career has become more focussed on gynaecology and I now spend most of my time managing heavy and/or painful periods and performing laparoscopic surgery. There isn’t enough time in the day to do everything! I will always miss delivering babies but I am committed to making a meaningful improvement in the quality of life of my patients who suffer from their menstrual cycle. I love talking to people all day, learning what is important to them and using that information to build a management plan that centres around their life. I also work in a team that includes other doctors, physios, nurses, dieticians and psychologists, many of whom have become my friends. I feel so lucky that this is how I get to spend my week.
The biggest challenge is the unattainable ‘balance’. Surgery means early starts and unpredictable finishes, I’m available 24/7 to my patients and I sometimes find it hard to switch off and be present at home. It’s a work in progress!
As well as a thriving career, you also have three beautiful children. How do you think you’ve transformed through the journey of motherhood?
When I had my first baby, I had been a doctor for 10 years and had spent about one fifth of that time doing night shift. I thought the hardest part of having a baby would be the sleep deprivation and that I was so well practiced it would be easy peasy! I was so wrong – yes, the newborn sleep deprivation is uniquely challenging but also relatively short lived. My children are so wonderful and surprise me every day, but the lack of control in being their mum has been the biggest learning curve and has forced me to embrace a newfound flexibility. I am less of a perfectionist, for the better, although I do still hate a messy house.
How have you found balancing family life and work life?
I am lucky enough to co-parent with my amazing husband who is a ‘real partner’ through and through. We share the responsibilities of our family and household and have equal respect for each other’s work. We are lucky to have an incredible nanny who is an integral part of our family unit and, where possible, we outsource household stuff. I recognise how privileged I am to be able to do that. I prioritise taking days off for important things – first and last days of term, school trips when I can – rather than focussing on the day to day grind that I mostly miss. Some weeks we smash it and other weeks are an absolute shambles, but I’m proud of my work and of setting an example to my children of independence, contribution, equality and love.
How would you describe your personal style?
Smart and tailored. I don’t save clothes for special occasions and, instead, wear my ‘nice’ pieces to work and in the weekend, toned down with knitwear or a blazer. During a work day, I’ll be sitting in a clinic, changing in and out of scrubs, walking between hospitals or bending over to insert a Mirena or perform an ultrasound. My clothes need to be comfortable, flexible, translate to sitting on the floor with my children when I get home, and (100% prerequisite) machine washable!
If your house was on fire and you could only save one item from your wardrobe, what would it be?
My Vivienne Westwood wedding dress. It is a work of art.
What’s on your MUSE wishlist?
The Tibi Sid Jean in navy stripe, the Soft Goat Boyfriend O-Neck Cashmere Sweater and the Harris Tapper Tuxedo Coat
