When people hear the word “doctor,” they often picture someone with a stethoscope, someone with answers. And yes, as obstetricians, we are trained to diagnose, treat, and support. But I’ve come to believe that the most effective OBs also think like scientists. It’s not just about what we know. It’s about how we ask questions, how we challenge assumptions, and how we keep learning.

This mindset doesn’t take anything away from the deeply human, emotional nature of the work we do in labor and delivery. If anything, it helps us serve our patients more fully. Thinking like a scientist allows us to be better listeners, more effective problem-solvers, and stronger advocates for both mothers and babies.

Curiosity Is the Core of Good Medicine

I’ve always believed that the best doctors are the ones who are still curious. Not just about rare diseases or unusual cases, but about everyday moments in the delivery room. Why did this labor stall? Why did this patient respond differently to a medication? Why are outcomes better at one hospital than another?

These questions matter. They push us beyond routine. They remind us that every patient is different, and that science is not a finished book but a living process.

Being curious doesn’t mean you don’t know your stuff. It means you know that medicine evolves. New studies come out. Guidelines shift. Populations change. Staying curious helps me adjust and personalize care, rather than rely only on what I learned in residency.

Evidence Over Ego

Let me be honest: medicine can be a high-pressure field. We are expected to know a lot, make fast decisions, and lead in moments of crisis. But in that environment, it’s easy to fall into the trap of certainty. It takes humility to say, “I don’t know yet, but I’m going to figure it out.”

Thinking like a scientist helps me put evidence before ego. It reminds me that I’m not the ultimate authority, and that’s okay. My job isn’t to always have the answer off the top of my head. My job is to seek the best answer, based on the best available information, and apply it with care.

When I teach medical students or residents, I try to instill this mindset early. You can be confident and still open to being wrong. You can be experienced and still keep learning.

Patients Deserve More Than Protocol

There’s nothing wrong with protocols. In fact, standardized care can save lives. But every OB knows that no two labors are alike. No two pregnancies are alike. And no two patients carry the same emotional weight into their delivery.

That’s why I believe it’s not enough to follow the checklist. We have to be able to ask, “Is this the best plan for this patient, in this moment?” That question is scientific at its core. It invites us to observe carefully, to draw on data, and to remain flexible.

I’ve had patients with rare blood types, patients with trauma histories, and patients with deeply rooted cultural preferences around birth. All of that requires more than memorized knowledge. It requires a thoughtful, adaptive approach. It requires thinking like a scientist.

The Intersection of Research and Compassion

Some people think research is cold or impersonal. But to me, the scientific mindset is the opposite. It says, “Your experience matters. Let’s try to understand it better.” Every time we take part in a study, contribute to data collection, or read new literature, we are saying to our patients, “You deserve care that’s evolving with the times.”

Scientific thinking also allows us to challenge systems that don’t serve our patients well. Whether that’s disparities in maternal outcomes, the overuse of interventions, or the underfunding of women’s health research, these are all problems that require both heart and rigor to address.

It’s About Better Outcomes, And Better Relationships

At the end of the day, this mindset isn’t just about improving outcomes on a spreadsheet. It’s about building trust. Patients can tell when their doctor is really listening, when we’re taking their questions seriously, and when we’re not just going through the motions.

When I approach my work with a scientist’s eye, I find myself asking better questions. And when I ask better questions, I build stronger relationships. That connection makes everything better — for the patient and for me.

A Practice Built on Learning

I didn’t start my career with this perspective. It grew over time. With every delivery, every unexpected complication, every late-night reading session, I came to realize that medicine isn’t static. Neither should my approach to it be.

Now, when I reflect on my work, I think of myself not just as a doctor, but as a lifelong learner. That mindset helps me serve my patients more fully, mentor new doctors more honestly, and grow into a better version of myself, both professionally and personally.

So, to every OB out there, and to every medical student considering this path, I say this: keep your curiosity alive. Be humble enough to question what you know. Be brave enough to change your mind. Your patients deserve a doctor who thinks like a scientist. And so do you.