As a Black, feminine doctor at Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Heart, Dr. Tasmia Henry, a maternal fetal medication specialist specializing in high-risk pregnancies, has skilled some preconceived perceptions from a few of her sufferers after they see her for the primary time.
“There have been cases the place folks don’t assume I’m a physician,” she defined. “I’ve been mistaken for a nurse, a member of the housekeeping workers, in addition to a cafeteria worker.”
Dr. Henry says she views Black Historical past Month that’s celebrated this month as a time of reflection. Roughly 5% of medical doctors within the U.S. determine as Black, and about 3% are Black feminine physicians, she famous.
She added that whereas not stunned by a few of her sufferers’ reactions, Dr. Henry views Black Historical past Month as a time of schooling. “We dwell in a world the place you determine with what you see,” she defined.
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“I feel folks might have had these preconceived notions of what a physician appears like and that’s not essentially what they see after they take a look at me.”
Dr. Henry, who began working towards medication in 2009 and has been with Kaiser Permanente Downey for the previous 10 years, stated it’s essential for the Black group, particularly youth, to not underestimate their potential.
“I feel it’s necessary to grasp that everybody has worth and potential for achievement, and that you simply shouldn’t let your pores and skin coloration or gender really feel prefer it’s an impediment, even though society might want you to really feel that approach,” she suggested. “Don’t let that exterior noise dictate what you’re able to. If you fall down, you get again up.”
Dr. Henry graduated cum laude along with her bachelor’s diploma in chemistry – Pre-Medication, from Florida A & M College, and graduated magna cum laude at Meharry Medical School in Nashville, each Traditionally Black Schools and Universities. She then accomplished her OB/GYN residency at Emory College in Atlanta. After that, she completed her maternal fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Heart.
Dr. Henry stated whereas she studied and labored exhausting to turn into a physician, she acknowledged that she had loads of assist from her household and her group. She equally hopes to encourage others to realize their desires.
“I proceed to work very exhausting to dispel the notion that an individual’s potential is restricted by their gender or pores and skin coloration,” she stated.
Dr. Henry additionally cautioned in opposition to portray your complete Black group with the identical brush.
“All of us come from totally different backgrounds and have totally different life experiences,” she defined.
“You may’t put us all into one field, as a result of that’s a part of the issue. Whereas the challenges that Black folks face, particularly throughout this time we’re in proper now, are quite a few, we should proceed to work exhausting to beat the challenges we’re dealing with. This nation doesn’t have an excellent historical past concerning its remedy of Black folks. The concept that it needs to be ignored or discounted is unlucky and contributes to a few of the challenges.
“I feel Black Historical past Month is yet one more alternative to acknowledge the contributions that Black folks have made to this nation,” Dr. Henry continued.
“I consider that illustration issues, and I acknowledge my accountability and hope to encourage the Black group, significantly the youth, to attempt for his or her fullest potential.”
