She Is Rewriting the Rules….

On Glass Canvas for March which happens to be Women’s history Month I am going to celebrate my dear friend Giovanna “Jo” Bettoli a.k.a Dr. Bettoli.

In January she came to stay with our family and during one of our snow storms I asked her if she would be up for a little interview with me. Lucky Me! She said of course.

As we sat in the kitchen; well I did and she prepared us her nonna’s & mom’s generational recipe for tiramisu I asked her several questions about her past, present, & future.

By the way having an Italian lady prepare dessert and pasta for you for an entire month is dangerous… & DELICIOUS .

Jo started off my telling me her current profession which is Medical Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is a third year resident and was visiting North Carolina to complete one of her rotations in Gynecology/Obstetric surgery.

She currently has four degrees –

1. Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy and World Affairs
2. Masters of Science
3. Masters of Public Health
4. Medical Degree

If you listened to the interview you would hear us both chuckle while she lists these off; not because it’s ridiculous or hard to believe but because it is so AMAZING & quite an accomplishment for someone (not just a woman) who is 34, that’s right 34 years old.

She says she enjoys the continued learning and desires to learn more always, she listed other paths and achievements doctors can strive for. She says, “no, I actually want to strive for is being a good doctor. To change people’s (women’s) lives in small ways. That’s all that I want to achieve professionally.”

She states, “I hope so, it’s a specialty that is already intimidating, and I hope I am demystifying it;” when asked if she is already having an impact.

Within this desire to help and be a kind doctor she discusses working in a clinic setting and providing care to the transgender community and women who have had traumatic experiences with gynecology. “A safe space for them to get their preventative care.”

Jo is humble and proud of all her success thus far. The entire time she was in our home she was kind, loving, lovely, funny, helpful, and delightful to be around.

It is easy to see why she is already a great doctor; it’s because she is a great human.

This leaning into connections and the people side of the medical field. She speaks about being up to date on the medical side without producing more output; steering herself away from the R & D side of medicine; even though she say’s “I could do that.”

By doing this type work she is able to debunk some of the myths that float around in women’s care and on social media; while providing a space for woman to feel empowered over their own care.

Our conversation meandered and as we discussed how she is making a difference; we also discussed what she feels & believes her strengths are:

1. Pairing efficiency with kindness
2. Being unorthodox
3. Pretty unashamed
4. Knowing her limits
5. Knowing what she doesn’t know
6. Communication Skills

What I think and feel makes her a great friend is what makes her a great doctor: the ability to share her knowledge and opinion in a lovely approachable way. This allows the recipient to feel empathized with, validated, and also understand information they didn’t have before or maybe not considered.

It creates trust and a safe environment for solving a problem that maybe takes some time to investigate.

So, how did Jo pivot from Business to Medicine. She knew this was always the plan but, needed the time and life experience to make the jump.

Jo also didn’t enjoy the business lifestyle.

For her the office environment “is not a life worth living”; “not to say we don’t need people who are fulfilled by these jobs and lifestyle.” The world needs all types of people, she is just not able to sit still.

I hear that!! We both met each other in 2016 in the office setting & now both have jobs serving and caring for others that keep us moving all day long.

I invited Jo to define herself; yes I know not an easy question.

“It depends who I am talking too.”

“I am Italian; European” She describes to me how these two words are her “morals and values come from where I am from.” It is what makes her who she is at the core. Because of her family and heritage she is a loyal friend and brave.

Does she ever define herself as a woman?

She tells me it was way more glaring in the business world than it is in medicine. In the business world there may have only been two woman total at the table and the men were much older. She says, “medicine is 50/50” with the incoming medical skewing more female.

There are still plenty of men in the medical field at the top levels; running the boards, and hospitals but eventually that will shift as the next generation and those to come after offer more women the higher hospital roles.

“women aren’t necessarily nicer to other women”

Dr. Giovanna Bettoli, 2026

Women will start to have more seats at the tables in medicine that allow them to make decisions, policy, and decide how the hospitals money is spent.

She mentions that, “women aren’t necessarily nicer to other women.” This is no surprise to me since it is already something I have written about previously.

In our last minutes of our conversation; I stayed in the feelings. Which if you know me you know this is were I always like to be.

I asked Jo about her family in particular the women in her life. She tells me a few stories about her mom & maternal grandma. It is easy to see why and how she became such a loyal friend, unashamed, and so brave.

With two women in your family that are also fearless and unashamed it could be said she learned it by watching, hearing, and growing up in an environment that encouraged Jo to soar.

“Break out the molds, you think you have to fit into”

Jo Bettoli

How lucky am I, those who know and love Jo, and now get to work alongside and be cared for by Dr. Giovanna Bettoli.

It was so lovely to spend a snowy afternoon in January talking to a “badass human” who is making a difference in the lives of other women, me included!

Thank you, Dr. Bettoli for coming to visit us, making us laugh, our tummy’s full, rubbing the pup’s bellies & ears, and most of all sharing a piece of your loyalty, bravery, & friendship with us!

Until next time!

See you soon – M.E

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