A couple that slays goals together, stays together. No one understands that more than Angela Holliday and her husband Eldred Bell, whom are both doctors.
Holliday, 29, and Bell, 29, met in 2008 during their freshman year at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, but they got closer as Bell began tutoring her in organic chemistry during their junior year. The two spent a lot of time studying together and grew closer as friends until they decided to start a relationship.
While their relationship continued to blossom, they stayed focused on their academics. During his third year in pharmacy school, Bell, a Chicago native, was inducted into the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society. During her fourth year at medical school, Holliday of Rockford, IL, was the only African American in her class to be inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, which recognizes the top 16% of medical students from all UIC campuses.
Fast forward to Match Day, March 17, 2017, Holliday and Bell both matched into their number one ranked residency programs. Holliday completed her pediatrics residency at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Bell completed his pharmacy residency at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA.
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When asked what inspired her to become a doctor, Holliday said:
“I made the decision to become a doctor at the very young age of 6 years old. I had an African American female pediatrician who inspired me to become a pediatrician as well. She was so intelligent, compassionate and kind. I was able to see myself in her. From that time on, I made the decision that I would be a ‘baby doctor.’ I loved science and learning about the human body. I took a medical science class in high school where I trained to become a CNA and I loved being in the hospital and interacting with patients. I think becoming a pediatrician is my calling and I’m extremely blessed to live my dream.”
Bell also knew at a young age that he wanted to become a pharmacist. “During high school I had the opportunity to participate in a summer internship at UIC’s College of Pharmacy that exposed me to the many career possibilities in pharmacy. During this time I became fascinated with how medications alter the body and treat diseases. I spent my senior year working at CVS Pharmacy and that solidified my passion for the field. During undergrad, I became more interested in the clinical aspects of pharmacy and decided that I wanted to pursue a residency after pharmacy to further my therapeutic expertise.”
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Although it was easy to assume that the pressures of completing their residencies would impact their relationship significantly, the couple makes it a priority to keep each other first.
“We cook and eat dinner together and make it a point to have date nights where we spend time just focusing on one another,” says Holliday. “We also both enjoy working out and try to go to the gym together as often as we can. Professional school is often very demanding but we just try to find as many ways to connect and enjoy one another’s company as possible.”
After getting married in June, the newlyweds will be moving to Washington D.C., to complete their residency training. The future Dr. Holliday-Bell plans to work as a primary care outpatient pediatrician in undeserved communities.
“The best part of our relationship has been accomplishing our goals together,” says Holliday. “We remember back in undergrad when becoming a doctor was just a dream for both us. We were in the grind together day in and day out, supporting and encouraging one another and believing each other’s dream. From walking across the stage together to earn our Bachelor’s degrees in Molecular and Cellular Biology to being handed our first white coats together, to becoming doctors together, it has been an amazing journey.”
