“I’ve been told I’m too aggressive, too direct, or too confident, but it can be easy for others to discount the life experiences that built who I am today. It took a long time to grow into this person and I won’t change just to fit in.”
“…if I was crazy enough to run around in the woods for 24 continuous hours, I would fit in well with the ‘hard work and long hours’ surgery mindset.”
“One of my favorite traditions was what my cousins and I called Grandpa’s Day. My grandpa was a politician and was always very busy with work, but every Wednesday, he’d take all of the grandkids to the mall to watch a movie and eat dinner.”
“I realized how important representation is, especially in medicine. Not just as a number or proportion, but also as people to be an inspiration to the next generation.”
“When you take the time to build a love founded on true friendship and mutual respect, that kind of bond won’t fade in the presence of adversity.”
“A promotional video during one of the intermissions popped up on the jumbotron that asked “Do you want to be a Dallas Stars Ice Girl?” My boss pushed me to give it a go and I decided to give it a shot.”
“When I was 6 months old, my parents suspected I had a hearing difference.”
“I spent most of my teenage years very confused and mentally unwell. Looking back, I did not have the knowledge or terminology to convey how I felt. I was experiencing gender dysphoria.”
“I love getting to know the patients and their stories. They like to see you as a person, not just as a doctor or a surgeon. Then they aren’t afraid to ask questions and tell you their fears.”
“I am a mother, a trauma surgeon, and an outspoken advocate for women all at the same time. Though there is still much to be desired in the quest for equality, I have seen great progress both in and outside my field in this regard. 10 years from now I think we’ll be staring at a very different landscape.”
