From Grenoble to Toronto, via Bordeaux, Maëlys juggles a career as a paediatric cardiologist, a PhD thesis in ultra-fast imaging and a busy family life. Between shifts at the university hospital and her research at the IHU Liryc, this mother of two young boys tells us how she balances her passion for scientific and medical research with motherhood.

Can you tell us how science came into your life?

I am a doctor by training, specialising in paediatric and congenital cardiology. I grew up in Grenoble and moved to Bordeaux in 2016 for my internship. Initially, research was not necessarily a clear career path for me, but I had a feeling that it would bring something extra to my career. I was fortunate enough to obtain a Master’s degree in Paris at a leading laboratory in Physics for Medicine.

Then, everything fell into place: my department head at Bordeaux University Hospital, Professor Jean-Benoît Thambo, guided me towards a mobility programme in Toronto, in the laboratory where Dr Olivier Villemain (a researcher at Liryc) was working. There, I discovered high-level research with exceptional resources. That’s when I really forged my scientific mind.

What is your research about?

My current research focuses on a translational project involving ‘ultrafast’ ultrasound (with a very high frame rate).

To understand this properly: in conventional ultrasound, we operate at around 50 images per second. With Ultrafast, we go up to 10,000, or even

20,000 frames per second!

You returned from your mobility programme in Toronto, seven months pregnant, to embark on an intensive clinical placement in Bordeaux.

How did you cope with that pace?

I never wondered whether motherhood would hold me back. I came home, gave birth, and started my clinical training.

The clinical fellowship is the most difficult period for a doctor. It involves two years of subspecialisation at the end of medical training. You have the responsibilities of a senior doctor while still being young. What’s more, my husband is a thoracic surgeon on call one week in three, so we had to be particularly organised with a four-month-old baby while working between 60 and 70 hours a week. We managed thanks to a lot of organisation, communication and support from our teams and loved ones.

What enabled you to maintain this balance?

It’s a combination of personal discipline and collective kindness. My husband and I have a very structured daily routine.

Professionally, I received a great deal of support: Professor Jean-Benoît Thambo and Dr Olivier Villemain were real ‘guardians’ who protected my working hours.

Another key factor was the crèche at Bordeaux University Hospital, which has very long opening hours and is right next to the Liryc Institute, where I am working full-time on my science thesis. So I start my day at 9am after dropping off my two sons, and finish around 5pm. I compartmentalise a lot: when I’m in the lab, I’m 100% researcher; when I get home, I’m 100% mum.

Gender stereotypes are still deeply rooted in professional circles. What is your view on this?

I have been fortunate because I have not had any negative experiences in my career, but I am realistic. Sexism exists and I have witnessed it. There are still very male-dominated departments where attitudes are slow to change. Some people are still reluctant to hire female senior registrars for fear that they will take time off for pregnancy. It is illegal, but it does happen.

But things are changing. During my second pregnancy, I was preparing to start my science thesis, for which I had to secure funding. I applied for the Inserm ‘Poste d’accueil’ (welcome position), which is a bit like the Holy Grail. After a preliminary selection based on my application, I had to go to Paris to give an oral presentation in front of a national jury of university professors. Six and a half months pregnant, I didn’t know whether to show off my bump or try to hide it, wondering if it might affect my chances of getting the funding. As it turned out, it was difficult to hide, I didn’t get any comments, and I got the job.

What would you say to young women who are unsure about balancing long studies with family life?

Trust yourself and don’t listen too much to others. Motherhood is something very intimate and personal. There is no ‘right time’. You have to listen to yourself before listening to outside pressures. It is possible to have a rich, demanding career and a fulfilling family life. It’s a question of balance and organisation, but it is possible!