8 August 2008

Q. What is your job and where do you work?

A. I am an Attending Physician in the Emergency Department at County Hospital in Oakland, California. I also work as an Assistant Professor and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Base Director.

Q. Can you describe a typical day in your worklife?

A. I work clinically in the Emergency Department while teaching medical students and residents. I also attend administrative meetings and create lectures.

Q. What do you find most rewarding and most challenging about your job?

A. The most rewarding aspect is teaching students, constantly learning and never being stagnant. I enjoy mentoring future professionals and bonding with patients. The most challenging part is balancing all of my responsibilities, in addition to my family, to maintain a quality of life.

Q. How did you train for your profession?

A. I attended the University of California at Berkeley for my undergraduate degree, then I took a year off while saving for medical school and studying for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). I attended the University of Southern California for medical school, and trained in Emergency Medicine in New York. I completed a research fellowship at Cornell, then joined the faculty at the Alameda County Medical Center-Highland/University of California San Francisco.

Q. Did you encounter any obstacles along the way?

A. Yes, I was told I would not get into medical school when I was an undergraduate. I was ‘encouraged to seek another career’ by my advisor.

Q. Did you enroll in any pre-health enrichment programs?

A. I participated in the Minority Medical Education Program (Note: This program is now called the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program). The Black Student Health Alliance (BSHA) on my campus also provided tutoring and support.

Q. Do you have any advice for young people who are interested in emergency medicine?

A. It is a fun and rewarding career where you have the opportunity to see the full breadth of medicine. Stay focused and regimented. Put academics first. Find a mentor early, and find a venue that allows you to get involved in research.

Q. Other than your work, how do you give back to your community?

A. I am currently Vice President of Mentoring in Medicine. I also implemented a summer internship at my facility to expose disadvantaged youth to Emergency Medicine. I have about 15 mentees, hold workshops at local schools, and run seminars for high school and college students. I also attempt to be available for any friend or family member to educate them on their health or during a health family crisis.