Describe yourself.

I am a human mom of two and a plant mom of many.  I am a helper and problem-solver.  I thrive off of a deep belly-laugh shared with a good friend, and unwind best with a good murder mystery—preferably one set in the Victorian era, in which the detective takes an excessive number of breaks for tea-time.

How have you broken with tradition in exchange for a self-defined life?

The most note-worthy accolades and highest-paying positions aren’t always the ones that bring us the most personal satisfaction.  I have been searching to find my way professionally, while learning to listen to my heart about what kind of work is the most fulfilling and has real impact for my community.  

Tell us about your uniform.   

Since my daily uniform is scrubs, it can be hard to express myself amidst the baggy, drab monotony of it all.  I do so with my choice of scrub cap, safety goggles, and fit of scrubs.  I love the little bit of cheer the bright colored accessories can bring.

On my days off outside the emergency room, I tend to stick with timeless, classic silhouettes. I love how black lends easy elegance, and I love jewel-toned colors too because they add a lot of cheer.   In these quarantine times, I always have on leggings on the bottom, no matter the business on top!

The minute-to-minute excitement of the ER, the camaraderie among the staff, and the messy, beautiful, crazy ways that we are all human are among the reasons why I keep going back everyday.

I am an emergency physician.  I love the informal motto of emergency medicine: “Anyone, any time, any place.”  We see it all, and treat everyone from the youngest to the oldest, regardless of one's ability to pay, who you are, or where you come from. Help people first. The minute-to-minute excitement of the ER, the camaraderie among the staff, and the messy, beautiful, crazy ways that we are all human are among the reasons why I keep going back everyday.  

In addition to my work in the ER, I am the Clinical Lead for the Sutter Health Institute for Advancing Health Equity.  In this role I serve on the Institute’s core team, where we conduct scientific research, implement clinical pilot programs, and internal and external partnerships that focus on improving health outcomes for the patients we serve across Northern California. Our team works hard to study health inequities and disparities, find solutions for these disparities, and advocate for systemic change, our goal being that every person has the right to achieve their very best health.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, I am hopeful that we can now fight back better, by vaccinating the public against the coronavirus.  Our group has identified and chronicled the disparities in outcomes from COVID-19 among racial/ethnic minorities, and we are working hard to advocate for policies for covid-19 vaccination, and interventions that will protect vulnerable populations.

What are you searching for?  

I hope to raise my children into adults who communicate freely, think critically, and have deep empathy for others.  I’ve been searching and searching, however there is no rule book for this!  I am grateful for the village that blesses our family with these values and examples on a daily basis, and try to remind myself to just do the best that I can.

What have you learned along the way? 

You cannot pour from an empty cup.  This pandemic has forced me to consider what it is that I care about professionally, and what kind of person do I want to be for those I love?  Between the 24/7 dreadful news cycle, the continuous nature of working without vacation or fun activities to break things up, and lots of worrying if the children will be affected by these strange times, I had to learn to be intentional about how to give my loved ones and my patients my best.  Self-care for me has looked like therapy, intentional time off to rest and recharge, exercise, video calls, and fun home improvement projects.

What are you struggling with?

The pandemic turned everything on its head: all the ways that I used to recharge vanished in an instant, just when I needed them most.  I’m hopeful that things will turn around soon with the vaccine, and grateful for the ability to work on finding new coping mechanisms, too.

What brings you comfort?  

I primarily work night shift in the emergency department, so good sleep can sometimes be a scarce commodity.  Exercising more has helped me get much better quality sleep, and has helped me release anxieties and fears about those things out of my control.  Even quick workouts can relieve a significant amount of stress, and the knowledge that I am investing in my health brings me great peace.  

Share a good read, watch, or listen.

I just finished reading Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste.  In this incredible book, Wilkerson expertly details how structural, systemic racism was woven into the fabric of America, all while drawing parallels to Nazi Germany and the Indian caste system.  Wilkerson also tells this story in a way that empowers the reader to draw conclusions about how we go about dismantling the American caste system and build a better, more just society for everyone.  Especially in light of all of the events of the past year, those searching for answers can find them, as well as a blueprint for how we can be informed, hopeful agents for change.

Tell us about something new.

I got a Peloton a couple months ago, and it has made such a difference in the quality and quantity of exercise I get.  I love the motivational instructors, the music, and the convenience of jumping on the bike at a moment’s notice.

Tell us about a gift you gave someone.

I really believe in empathy in gift-giving.  My best friend’s grandmother passed away in the fall of 2020, and our friend group gifted her with a mother-daughter brunch, one of their favorite weekend activities, where they could lift each other up, toast to the memory of their dear matriarch, and just breathe in a familiar way. 

Tell us about something you created.

I recently wrote and shared a “doctor’s diary” entry, detailing my experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine as an African-American physician, the historical origins of vaccine hesitancy in my community, and ways we can build trust in the American healthcare system.  Read the story here. 

Stephanie is a practicing emergency physician and Clinical Lead for The Sutter Health Institute for Advancing Health Equity.  You can find her on LinkedIn and Instagram. 

P.S.  The pieces in our stories are always authentically picked.  When purchased, we sometimes receive compensation in return.  Thank you for supporting!

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