MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST DIRECTORY 2019

// "We need so much more openness, transparency and understanding that it's OK to talk about depression as an illness. It's not a weakness.  It's not a moral shortcoming. It's not something people brought on themselves" -John F. Greden, MD //

When Mental Health Awareness month began, I was pushed to do something I had been wanting to do for a couple of years. I don't need a study to show me the prevalence of mental illness, the most likely causes of mental illness, the stigma and attitudes toward mental illness, the lack of access to medical care, the issues with treatment of mental illness, the lack of representation of minorities treating those with mental health issues and the devastation that mental illness can cause in the African American community...I see it in my community, in families around me, in  my friends and in my patients daily. But what can I do about it?!?! I don't have the capital, the power or the platform to change these things....but I have love, empathy, knowledge, resources and great friends. So I called my dear LS Mrs. Sharita Bilson with the new Grace Place Therapy in Little Rock, Arkansas and my friend Ms. Kendra Glasper, an awesome social worker in Northwest Arkansas, to help me make a MELANATED MENTAL HEALTH DIRECTORY for THERAPISTS! (I am so grateful for these ladies). This is a work in progress, but this is our first one. We have comprised a list of minority therapist in Little Rock, NLR, Conway, Benton, Searcy, Pine Bluff, Hot Springs, Dermott, Fayetteville, Rogers and Fort Smith. I will attach the link to this directory in my bio. Please copy and distribute...to providers you know, your clinics, your friends, EVERYONE! If you know someone who should be on the list, let us know! We are a village....who can benefit from both structured medical care and prayer. Let's help each other!

Major Key: Aspire to Inspire

//“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies . . . Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die . . . It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away.”   -Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451//

My mother moved to England from Ghana at the age of about 17. She then traveled the world (for a few years, since she currently on 29 and 3/4) and eventually moved to the United States just a few years before I was born.  Growing up with an amazing intelligent and well-traveled mother afforded me a different world view.  I saw the world as a first generation Ghanaian-American who was brought up in a fully Ghanaian household.  My culture was not American, my food growing up was not American and my relationship to African-Americans was often difficult to cultivate due to this difference in perspective. I have grown and learned and forged many relationships with many different people from many different backgrounds, but I cherish the mindset I learned from my mother.  That is the beauty of passing on knowledge, experiences, thoughts, culture, etc from generation to generation.  My mother helped me navigate this world...and she taught me not to be selfish in my knowledge, but to help my fellow brother or sister.  She engrained in me the drive to pass things along, to help others, to pave a way, to be thankful to those who came before me, to share the wealth...to aspire to inspire.

I am a dark-skinned, Ghanaian-American, assertive, strong-minded and intelligent FEMALE Medical Doctor in a Caucasian, male-dominated field. I experience things that many of my colleagues never even think of. My dream is that the medical field becomes more diverse and fully saturated with minorities!

What advice do you have for girls that aspire to be a “ Black Woman, White Coat?”

First and foremost, never let anyone tell you that you cannot achieve your dreams. Anything that you aspire to do or be, you can do it! The road to attaining your goals may not be easy, it may have great triumphs and failures, but you should always remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and people will be put in your path to help you...sometimes when you least expect it.

My advice is to follow your dreams. Do well in school. Be prepared to always be your best, because unfortunately, a lot of people are waiting for you to make a mistake. Seek help when you need it! Having the skill of knowing when to ask for help is invaluable. Find a mentor who has recently been through what you are planning to go through (my email is on my contact page!!). Sometimes just hearing stories of success can be the greatest boost in confidence. Lastly, NEVER GIVE UP.

What do you hope to accomplish while practicing?

I recognize that practicing medicine means that I have a lifetime of learning ahead of me. I hope to continue to become a well-rounded, competent, and compassionate physician.  I want to make a positive impact in the lives of my patients and in my community.  I want to give back to my community and help others attain their goals, through mentoring. I want to inspire and motivate young people, especially young African-Americans, to work hard for their dreams and to help them realize that you can really do anything if you put your mind to it and ask for help when you need it...and I want to help with this process in any way that I can. I have made it this far and will continue to reach greater heights...and I want that for everyone.  If I can do it, you can too!

-Dr.Z

The Journey: The Infamous Residency Match

// “Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face.” – Carol Moseley-Braun //

You go through the stressful process of getting into medical school and you think you have jumped your biggest hurdle....ha! Well, actually, for some people this may be true - but for most, you have just jumped the first hurdle. After medical school classes, Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS, you now have to go through the process of finding a job you love that equally loves you. This process is called - THE MATCH.

The MATCH process is pretty much the Hogwarts Sorting Hat process in real life. There is a science and algorithm behind it...but explaining it and really understanding how it works is kind of mysterious.

How did you make your rank list?

Making your MATCH rank list is a science and requires finesse (Does anyone really understand this science-NO. Does anyone really have all the finesse-NO).  I say that because you want the audience to be in your favor, yet you don't have any control over what happens once you submit your list.  How the MATCH works is, you first make a list of places that you would like to apply to.  You pay to apply to these places and if they like you application, they offer you an interview.  So you go and interview and then you go back home and you rank all the places where you interviewed from 1 to whatever number while those places are also simultaneously ranking you out of the people that they have interviewed.  You wait for months, the longest and most nerve-wracking months ever, for the Match Day when you determine if your rank matches with the rank of the institutions that you have interviewed.  To be honest the process is not very clear, but that is how it's done.  And on that special day in March everyone opens up their letters to determine where they will be for the next 3 to 7 years of their life.  Now doesn't that sound stressful!!

Why did you chose the Family Medicine specialty? Were you conflicted with any
other specialites?

The MATCH is all about increasing your odds of getting a job!  To do this, I applied for multiple specialties.  I loved OB/GYN, I liked Pediatrics, and Family Medicine would allow me to do pretty much everything I've ever wanted to do.  As a result, I applied to all 3.  On that lovely day in March, I had matched to my Number 1 ranked Family Medicine program. 

How did you feel when you matched at UAMS?

The MATCH process, to be completely honest, is scary and you wait so long after interviews to find out where you matched that you just are happy you have a job once Match Day rolls around.  I applied to OB/GYN, Pediatrics and Family Medicine programs.  I have loved Obstetrics since my OB/GYN rotation in 3rd year of medical school, but I also want to have a family and be present in their lives. I can honestly say that I matched where I am meant to be, and I am so happy and grateful to be a resident in my program.  Family Medicine will allow me to have continuity of care (which I love) and I can also throw Obstetrics in my practice with a more flexible schedule.

The Journey: Where to Apply (College AND Medical School advice)

// “I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else’s whim or to someone else’s ignorance. ” – bell hooks //

You have completed or are in your final years of high school or college. You have taken your SAT or ACT or MCAT and have your score. You have cultivated your resume--you know what you look like on paper. Now, how do you determine who to give this information to??

I found it beneficial (for college and medical school and residency, actually), to be strategic when deciding where to apply. The interweb is at your fingertips...USE IT! If you know how you look on paper, it makes sense to be proactive and research what the schools you are interested in are looking for. Here are some helpful websites that list the average entry exam scores for college and medical school.

Average ACT/SAT scores for College

Average GPA and MCAT scores for Medical School - general

GPA and MCAT score grid by ethnicity

Where did you go to medical school?

I went to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas (my hometown) where I received my Medical Doctorate and my Masters of Public Health, concurrently.

Why did you decide to go to the University of Arkansas for medical school?

Have you ever heard of in-state tuition???? If not, look it up.  The difference in price for medical schools across the country is absolutely crazy.  I just really didn't see any point going to school out of state and paying a lot of extra money when I had a great Medical School in my hometown that was a "reasonable" (heavy on the quotation marks, because paying for education to me is hardly ever reasonable) price.  Also, being close to home and having the support of family was a great blessing during Medical School.  Medical School is a "breeze" for a small percentage of people; for most, it will be hard work.  Having friends and family for support really helped me get through Medical School.

What other medical schools did you consider?

I applied to Howard University, Meharry Medical College and Ohio State University. My "road to getting into Medical School" was a bit different from a lot of other people because I honestly just wasn't planning on applying to Medical School during the time that I did. If you have a foreign parent, specifically a West African parent, you will completely understand how I applied to Medical School at the last minute because I was told to. (HAHA)  About 2 weeks before the deadline for Medical School applications, my mother walked into my bedroom and asked me "How are applications going? One of the Doctors I work with said his son already put in his application and has an interview date".  My response was "Why, mom?  I'm not applying this year! I am planning on applying next year".  Her response was "No, YOU ARE APPLYING THIS YEAR"...and that was pretty much the end of that conversation.  So I had about 2 weeks to get my application together, get my letters of recommendation from Maine and schedule my interview.  Period!  I had a lot to do in a little bit of time.  So in the end, I applied to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Howard University, Meharry Medical College and Ohio State University.  I happened to get accepted to you UAMS prior to my interviews at the other Medical Schools, so I canceled my other interviews and was more than happy to stay in Arkansas with in-state tuition.

The Journey: My Road To Medical School

// “If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive. ” – Audre Lorde //

As with ALL of these posts, this is my perspective and my journey.  I was blessed to know what that I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up around the age of 7.  With that in mind, my mother (and myself) tailored my entire school career to eventually getting into medical school.  This is not the case for everyone.  That being said, here are some tips that got me to where I am now.  Hope my journey and experiences are able to help!

How did you prepare for medical school? MCAT score? GPA? How did you make yourself competitive?

After graduating from college, I ended up taking a year off.  I know myself and I just wanted the year to enjoy life and decompress.  I took my MCAT about 6 months after graduating college.  I took the Kaplan prep course on campus while I was in college, but it was really hard to focus on my studies and really study for the MCAT, so I really just used the materials and studied for the test on my own after graduation.  Fortunately, I only had to take the MCAT once and I had the rest of the year to enjoy myself.  I made a 29 on the MCAT and I graduated with a GPA of 3.75 (NOTE: This was in 2010, so the expectation for scores and the entire MCAT exam has changed.  Don't use my scores as a benchmark for you).  I believe I was a competitive applicant because I was an African-American Female applying in the South with reasonable scores.  That is not to say that as an African-American I had to do less to get into school, I just know that a lot of schools were "trying" to increase diversity, so I fit the bill.  It also helps to have a good medical school interview.  Some people are born with the gift of eloquence in interviews, and some people aren't...and that's no problem. If you struggle in an area, you just have to work harder.  Practice your interview skills if you have to. Take extra courses or repeat courses to increase you GPA. Retake the MCAT if you have to.  In the end, you just have to do what you have to do to make your application packet as strong as you can.

What are some tips you can give us to prepare for the MCAT?

When preparing for the MCAT, I really think you just have to be focused.  Make a schedule.  Follow your schedule.  Find a prep program that caters to your strengths AND your weaknesses.  Not all prep programs are made equally!  Some are great for those who already have a great foundation and others are great for those who need help creating a foundation.  Take the time to figure out what you need from a program and determine what program you use based off of that.

PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE. Practice as many questions as you can in preparation for the exam.  On exam day, you need to be prepared to find the question as quickly as possible, find the BEST answer and finish all of the questions in the allotted time.  DON'T LEAVE ANY QUESTIONS BLANK. You do not lose points for a wrong answer, so it is better to guess in a time-crunch and have a chance at getting a correct answer than it is to not have an answer at all. 

The Journey: What Medical School Was Like (Q&A)

Here are just a few of the questions I have been asked about the journey through medical school* As time goes on and I get more questions, I will add to the section.  Also, If you have any questions, email them! 

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lena Horne

Take us through your journey in medical school. What was the hardest part?

Now this is a hard question. To start, the overall structure of Medical School is that the first 2 years are spent in the classroom.  At my institution, the plan was for us to learn normal anatomy, physiology, cell biology, microbiology and pathology in the first year. Then we learn how everything can go wrong in the second year. Then we apply what we have learned and continue with hands-on learning in our 3rd and 4th years. They say Medical School is like drinking water out of a fire hydrant....and that is pretty accurate. There is so much information to learn and you just never feel caught up..and any moment that you do feel caught up, you remember that you aren't. That is the cycle until the middle of 4th year when you feel a sense of extreme freedom as you just wait to find out where you MATCH for residency. I can't really pin-point a "hardest" part. Standardized exams are NOT my favorite thing in the world, so Step 1 and Step 2 were hard for me.

You received your MPH (Masters in Public Health) while in medical school? What was the process like?

I honestly believe that if you can make it through Medical School, getting your Masters is a small feat in comparison. My institution was great in that I did not have to pay for my Masters because I was already in the Medical program, but just because I didn't have to pay with money doesn't mean I didn't pay with time. A lot of my friends had a lot more free time in medical school because they didn't have extra classes that I had to go to, but I really think that all Medical Students should take some public health courses.  By doing so, I believe you become a better physician.  You look at the health of your patients' from a different and wider perspective.

How did you feel when you finally got to do rotations? What was your favorite one? Least favorite?

I was so excited when it came to doing an actual rotation.  The 1st and 2nd year of Medical School were full of class work, and by the 3rd year, I was just so ready to get out of the classroom.  The best part of getting to start rotations is that you have actual patient contact, and you begin to see the disease processes that you spent 2 years in a classroom learning in real life!  I really liked all of my rotations, so I found it a bit difficult to settle on one particular specialty.  My 1st rotation was pediatrics, and I just loved the kids.  My 2nd rotation was surgery, and I just loved being in the operating room.  My 3rd rotation was OB/GYN, and I just loved delivering babies and going to the nursery and holding the babies. Do you see the trend??  Yes, that's my personality...I fell in love with everything.  I think my absolute favorite rotation was OB/GYN, and my least favorite rotation was probably Internal Medicine.