Dr. Ann Schutt-Aine, a renowned obstetrician and gynecologist in the Gulf Coast region, has made significant contributions to women’s healthcare since 2008. With extensive experience gained from her work at Planned Parenthood affiliates in Pennsylvania and California, she has become a prominent figure in the medical community.
As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Ann Schutt-Aine balances her time between direct patient care and mentoring residents and medical students. Her dedication to advancing medical education is exemplified by her role in introducing Texas’ first Ryan Residency Program in Abortion and Family Planning. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, she completed her residency at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh and is actively involved in several esteemed medical associations.
In this exclusive interview, Dr. Schutt-Aine reflects on her career, values, and the transformative power of her work in women’s healthcare.
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in your chosen field?
“I chose OB/GYN because it’s a surgical field (and I love to operate!), but it also has the opportunity to make long-term relationships with patients. We see them for annual exams, then more frequently to monitor pregnancy and get to deliver the babies, and then see them again annually—maybe do surgery as they get older and need that care. It’s really a great mix. I chose to focus on abortion care because it’s an opportunity to make a HUGE impact on someone’s life in such a short time. People seek abortion care because they cannot be pregnant at that time—for whatever reason, whether they want to be or not. To profoundly impact the course of someone’s life with a 5-10 minute procedure is a privilege.”
Can you share a defining moment that shaped your career?
“I don’t know about one moment, but there have been so many small moments when patients, after having their abortion completed, were thankful not that me and my team were there to provide the care, but that we did it with compassion and were ‘nice’ to them. Each time it broke my heart to realize that people are willing to accept (and actually expect) abortion providers being mean or judgmental but would still subject themselves to that because they needed the care. It made me realize how important it was to provide this care not just with technical skill but with compassion so that the patients realize they are deserving of compassionate medical care, no matter the procedure.”
How would you describe your personal and professional values?
“I believe in equity—everyone deserves quality medical care, no matter their social/financial situation. I have always worked with ‘underserved’ communities—I started my career at a Federally Qualified Health Center and have been at the largest safety-net health system in Houston for the past 16 years (Harris Health System, previously Harris County Hospital District). My career has always been focused on taking care of patients that many do not want to—either because of the type of care they seek or because of their ability to pay/not pay.”
What advice would you give your younger self?
“Trust the process more. You won’t always see the full picture right away, but progress often happens in the background. Focus on consistency, embrace discomfort as part of growth, and don’t shy away from opportunities that stretch you. Learn to prioritize relationships and seek out people who challenge and inspire you. Most importantly, don’t be too hard on yourself. Success and failure are both temporary, but your ability to learn from each is what lasts.”
What personal or professional achievements are you most proud of?
“My family/home. I have a fantastic husband and great kids that, so far, we seem successful in raising to be good humans.”
How do you manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance to ensure overall well-being?
“Exercise—it keeps me sane and healthy. I also have a couple of standing ‘dates’ with people I love to make sure we stay connected (Friday evening family hangouts with another family we’re close with, Sunday night family dinner with my immediate family, mom, best friend, and her fiancé).”
How do you define success?
“Personal: maintaining healthy relationships with the people I love.
Professional: helping my patients reach the health outcomes they desire.”
Please tell us an inspirational, uplifting story about a time you helped change someone’s life or someone helped change your life and made a difference.
“There’s a nurse I worked with at the abortion clinic—a FANTASTIC nurse who was studying to be a nurse practitioner so she could help others. After we’d worked together for a while, she told me that I probably didn’t remember (I didn’t), but I had performed an abortion for her many years before, prior to her finishing nursing school. She was in an abusive relationship at the time and had a young daughter. She knew that if she had another child with him, she would not be able to leave the relationship and do what she wanted with her life. She said because of the care I provided, she was able to move on from that relationship, finish nursing school, and raise her daughter in a home free of abuse. It’s one story that helps me remember how important the care is and how it fundamentally changes people’s lives all the time.”
Dr. Ann Schutt-Aine’s unwavering dedication to compassionate care and her advocacy for equitable healthcare shine throughout her career. Her contributions extend beyond individual patient care, paving the way for advancements in women’s health and medical education.
Through her insightful reflections, Dr. Schutt-Aine offers a powerful perspective on the value of empathy and equity in healthcare. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Schutt-Aine for sharing her remarkable journey and inspiring approach to medicine.
