Your Mindset is EVERYTHING!

//"In order to carry a positive action, we must develop here a positive vision" - Dalai Lama //

When you go through transitions and/or tough times, you oftentimes become isolated.  

During this time of isolation, you must choose what you will do with it. 

1. you can wallow in lonliness (this is the equivalent of choosing a negative mindset)

or 

2. you can utilize this time to get to know YOU, understand your situation, grow and learn from this isolation and come out of it a better person (i.e. a positive mindset) 

The last 2-3 years of my life have been an interesting time.  When I really take the time to look back, a lot has occurred in the last few years. 

- I reached a milestone in my life by completing my MD/MPH degree and began my medical residency training -- unfortunately, I experienced all of this joy and progress and happiness without a person that I had expected to be in my life forever. 

- I moved to a town where I practically knew no-one to begin the grueling work schedule that is residency, while working to sustain a long-distance, new relationship. 

- I had to navigate, daily, the difficulty of being a young, tall, minority female working as a physician in a male-dominated field in Arkansas (the stories I could tell..and will, with time). 

- I had to work on getting control over my anxiety (which at times can be extremely overwhelming--specifically when it comes to examinations). 

- I had to control my anxiety, while working about 100hrs a week, while simultaneously studying for Step 3 -- a 2-day, 16- hour exam. 

There is probably so much more I can list when it comes to things that crowd my headspace daily and attribute to my stress and anxiety over that last few years, but I think that is enough.  During this time, I have chosen the #2 option above. I have been in my own world, dealing with my own "stuff", navigating my own obstacles, learning about me and figuring out what I want and/or need. This time has been exhausting, precious, beneficial and is currently still on-going. 

I hope that when you enter these transitions or moments in your life, you also choose 2! I hope you choose a positive mindset that results in positive outcomes -- especially understanding and growth*

XOXO

Dr. Z

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.