lost my brother when I was in medical school, and took time off school to deal with the repercussions of that loss. In addition, I’ve found that voicing my concerns to my team continues to be incredibly valuable. I was lucky to have a program director who was also a mother. She helped me understand the importance of taking care of myself and my family, including pumping for my newborn during my shifts, so that I was in a better position to take care of my patients.
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“Mom guilt” is very real. We were very fortunate that my husband, a finance professional, was able to work from home during the pandemic and watch our children while I worked. However, I missed a lot of my children’s first moments and wasn’t able to spend as much time as I would have liked with them. By proactively managing those moments, however, I’ve found that I can process that guilt and continue to connect with both my patients and my family.
Entering medicine as a minority can be daunting. However, as you find your community and learn how to effectively manage life events as they come, including prioritizing your needs and self-care, you’ll find that you’re in a much better position to overcome whatever might come your way. Healthcare needs diversity. The healthcare industry needs more black doctors because patients from all walks of life need you and the unique perspective you bring to the table. You’re able to give the best care to patients when they are most at ease, and in many cases, coming in as a minority physician is one of the best ways to provide that ease.
Phyllis Pobee is a family medicine physician trained at the State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and currently working in the Greater Toronto Area. She can be found online at www.phyllispobee.com, via email at [email protected], and on Instagram @dr.phyllispobee.
