Board-certified plastic surgeon Ivona Percec, MD, PhD, is a rarity. Not only does she conduct research in addition to her surgical work, but by choosing plastic surgery as her focus, she knew she was entering an incredibly demanding medical specialty, historically popular among men.

Because of the sacrifices and schedule juggling involved in surgery and research, many women pursue other medical fields that give them a greater opportunity to balance family life. Dr. Percec, however, was undaunted. In fact, she ended up being the only woman to give birth to two children during her surgical residency without taking extra time off.