Biography

Doctress (n.) A female doctor.   

Much like a priestess or empress, I believe a female doctor has a unique role to understand her patients, using her natural gifts, socialization, and life experiences. The term "doctress" has always reminded me of the High Priestess tarot card, standing for wisdom, fair judgment, common sense, introspection, and interpretation of secrets. All qualities necessary for a physician, a healer. Let me share my background, and how I came to identify as a Doctress.

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Growing up, I was more interested in becoming the first female NBA player (in pre-WNBA days) than pursing higher education. I found few role models for a black female from a single-parent, working-class family to encourage me into anything other than sports and music. My views radically changed when my grandfather was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, with no cure in sight. My small family was thrust into the world of hospitals, specialists, blood tests, and managed care in an attempt to preserve my grandfather's life. While we were unsuccessful in saving him, I learned how crucial the doctor-patient relationship was, and I realized how hungry patients were for education, communication, hope, and respect. 

My search to find a place in medicine led me into training as a Pharmacy Tech, then to jobs in non-profit organizations, hospital reception, and health education. Teaching low-income senior citizens about health led me to consider furthering my education in medical school. Patients placed great trust in their physicians, but had limited understanding of their disease processes, need for medication, and expectations for recovery. I applied to a medical school known for generating primary care doctors and serving the underserved. 

During my first year of medical school, I worked as a Patient Care Tech/CNA on swing shift to better understand the workings of hospital medicine, where I gained respect for those on the front lines of patient care-- nurses, techs, and aides. The opportunity go on a medical mission in Africa solidified my ultimate calling to provide education and care to rural and global underserved populations.

Being the first physician in my family, many of the goings-on in medicine are foreign to me. I use this blog to reflect on experiences in the clinical setting, and share resources that I have found to be helpful. I value feedback immensely, as it helps to shape me into the Doctress I aspire to be.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy.

~ LAM