Photograph by Ben Rollins
Here, we’ve spotlighted nearly two dozen randomly selected physicians from our Top Doctors 2024 list. We asked each of them to tell their own stories about their journey as a doctor. Several said they decided to enter the profession because one or both of their parents were doctors; one mentioned that as a child, she went on weekend hospital rounds with her father. One of our favorite responses came from a neurosurgeon, Dr. Tyler J. Kenning, who said that being a physician and caring for patients embodies Theodore Roosevelt’s sentiment that “the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
Pavna K. Brahma, MD
reproductive endocrinologist and IVF director
Shady Grove Fertility
You’re holding a very cute baby on the cover [of our July 2024 issue]; what’s her story?
Getting to hold Lucy is incredibly special to me. It was a true honor to have been a part of the journey that led to her arrival. Her parents are among the most committed and dedicated people I have met. It was not an easy path, and there were many unexpected hurdles. Lucy’s mother endured surgeries and treatments with perseverance and bravery. In vitro fertilization (IVF) was a helpful tool to find the healthiest embryo through preimplantation genetic testing. Achieving a successful outcome and seeing Lucy’s smile inspires me beyond words.
What real-life or fictional doctor inspired you to become a doctor?
As a teenager, one of my first experiences in medicine was at a small hospital in the town I grew up in. I volunteered on weekends, getting water for patients and reading books to some of the elderly patients. I was inspired by a doctor who worked on the heart telemetry floor. He treated patients with such humanity. He explained things to his patients, often drawing out anatomy to help them visualize. He respected their autonomy, and this left patients feeling empowered despite going through such hardship.
I definitely try to emulate these characteristics when I care for patients. In the field of infertility, patients endure many physical and emotional hardships. My goal is to help them feel supported and empowered. I aim to bring positivity and hope to them, and I let them know that we will get through the ups and downs together. I am inspired by my patients every day, and I am humbled to have the privilege of being a part of their lives.
What led you to your interest in endocrinology and fertility?
In medical school, my interest in women’s health flourished. I was particularly interested in hormonal regulation and endocrinology. I also enjoyed performing surgeries and procedures. During residency, I was moved by the close relationships I was able to develop with patients in the field of fertility. It is exciting to practice medicine in a field that has gone through incredible scientific advancement over the past few decades. Helping couples achieve their dreams of parenthood is such a sincere passion of mine. I am grateful that all of these reasons led me to become a reproductive endocrinologist.
The IVF journey is as much an emotional journey as it is a physical one. After being by a patient’s side through IVF treatment, it is very humbling to call them with their positive pregnancy test. I feel lucky to have a profession that feels more like a mission than a job.
What medical breakthroughs do you anticipate over the next 10 to 20 years?
In 2023, the world was changed forever when gene editing technology was used to treat sickle cell anemia. It is remarkable that this biotech advancement is allowing us to treat a previously incurable disease. My hope is that continued progress with gene editing will allow us to reach many more diseases—both common and rare.
I sincerely hope that genome editing will help create targeted immunotherapy to treat cancer. In addition, advances in regenerative medicine could change life as we know it. Tissue engineering is evolving significantly and may become even more efficient at building human tissue to replace body parts.
In my field of reproductive medicine, tissue engineering could potentially reverse the impact of ovarian aging, or even the adverse consequences of cancer treatments on ovarian reserve.
Photograph by Ben Rollins
Alia Sampson Brown, MD
dermatologist
Georgia Dermatology Partners
Is there a patient who stands out because they reminded you of why you wanted to become a doctor?
I had a patient who had a catastrophic injury at his home with a propane tank. It opened in his face, burning 50 percent of his body. He had devastating injuries to his head, neck, chest, hands, and arms. After life-saving heroics and multiple surgeries by his local hospital burn unit, he was alive but disfigured and unrecognizable when he looked in the mirror.
He found me in hopes that he could restore some of his original appearance. His burn left him with extensive scarring on both the face and the hands. His original complexion was that of a brown-skinned Black man. But after multiple skin grafts, he was left with no pigment on his face. His face did not match the rest of his body. He also had extensive scarring on his hands, which kept him from enjoying the most basic of activities, such as working in the yard or on his car.
He drove from Florida to see me, sometimes weekly, for over two years. We were able to restore his original pigment in his face, as well as improve the scarring in his hands so that he could grip and hold things. This patient showed me how things can change in an instant. He also taught me to be grateful for the small things and that you don’t realize what you have until you lose them.
What real-life or fictional doctor inspired you to become a doctor?
When thinking about this question, I realized that there was no fictional movie or TV depiction of a powerful Black woman physician. I think that the lack of representation is what may have inspired me to want to become a physician. I didn’t want to be in the stereotypical societal norms of what women were supposed to become. I wanted to be a wife and mother, but I also wanted to be a physician. One of the reasons that I wanted to go into dermatology was that Black doctors represent three percent of all dermatologists, and representation is important in both clinical medicine and research.
What’s the one way you wish patients would take better care of themselves?
I wish that people would take better care of their mental health. Despite my being in the business of skin, I feel that so many things manifest as a result of mental health, mood, and self-esteem. People, especially teenagers, are putting a lot of undue pressure on themselves as well as setting unrealistic expectations, and when things do not work out, there can be devastating effects. I want patients to be kinder to themselves.
Photograph by Ben Rollins
Anil O. Thomas, MD
orthopedic surgeon
Peachtree Orthopedics
Is there a case you’ve handled that stands out as a reminder of why you wanted to become a doctor?
Recently, I had the prestigious and exciting honor of performing the first AI-assisted surgery in the state of Georgia. Despite my now-long career in medicine, this case stood out to me as a visceral moment where I got to be part of a rapid advance in technology, and a clear moment that reminded me of why I became a doctor.
The world of medicine is constantly evolving, and it is really fun to be at the forefront of that. The field of total joint replacement surgery is evolving right in step with this evolution. In the early years of this procedure, hospital stays numbered in the weeks. As techniques improved, this was reduced to days, and now, in many cases, hours. The way hip replacements are performed has also benefited from the vast knowledge gained over the years. One new and exciting lane of technology propelling hip replacement surgery into the future is augmented reality.
Traditionally, doctors plan a patient’s hip replacement surgery and implants by using X-rays of the patient, and size the implants based on these images. Although this is still an effective way to predict and plan a surgery, it is centered around studying a two-dimensional depiction of their three-dimensional body. Augmented reality in a hip replacement takes a CT scan of a patient’s hip and creates a three-dimensional model of it. With that, specifically designed implants are applied to this model, producing a better fit for each patient’s individual anatomy.
The future of medicine is no longer in a galaxy far, far away: It’s here and now.
What’s one way you wish patients would take better care of themselves?
One of the best things for your body is regular exercise. Obviously, this is something many healthcare providers emphasize to improve cardiovascular health, decrease risk of diabetes, improve mood, and the list continues. From an orthopedic perspective, regular exercise maintains muscle condition and strength, helps bone density, promotes healthy weight loss, maintains joint function, and can even decrease risk of symptomatic arthritis. Humans are meant to move. Unfortunately, today’s pace of life makes this difficult. Therefore, we all should make it a point to carve out time for regular exercise for our health and well-being.
Photograph by Ben Rollins
Shatul L. Parikh, MD
otolaryngologist
Northwest ENT and Allergy Center
Is there a case that stands out because it reminded you of why you wanted to become a doctor?
I enjoy all facets of being a physician, but the aspect that really drives me is my medical mission work in developing countries. I do cleft lip and palate surgery in Peru and have been on many missions there. One patient in particular really resonated with me, and to this day is one of the most memorable surgeries and outcomes: A three-month-old baby had a cleft lip from birth. The mother was forced to feed the baby breast milk by a spoon. After we performed the surgery, we immediately handed the baby to the mother in recovery. She was instantaneously able to nurse the child, and the mother broke into tears. In fact, everyone in the recovery room was in tears.
Have you had an unexpected emergency situation outside the office that you dealt with?
While on the tennis courts here in Atlanta, a friend had a cardiac arrest. I had to perform CPR and provide cardiac shock, which was able to resuscitate him.
Have you solved a “medical mystery” involving a patient with symptoms that didn’t suggest an obvious diagnosis?
An 18-year-old female had a thyroid mass . . . She was referred for surgery. When I did an ultrasound, I found that her carotid artery was running in the middle of her thyroid mass. This was incredibly unusual. I ended up repeating the biopsy and found out she had lymphoma. If we had done surgery, which was what was recommended, it could have been devastating for her. We made the correct diagnosis; she is cured and went on to live a great life.
In your field, what’s the one way you wish patients would take better care of themselves?
Avoidance of toxic substances like nicotine, alcohol, and sugars. Patients with significant comorbidities, like obesity, can make their surgeries so much more difficult.
Photograph by Ben Rollins
Scott Miller, MD
urologist
Wellstar Urology
Have you solved a “medical mystery” involving a patient with symptoms that didn’t suggest an obvious diagnosis?
On just an average day in the office, I saw a new patient who was found to have an incidental, small “kidney lesion.” Like many patients, cancer was at the top of her list of concerns. When I reviewed the CT scan, the lesion did not appear to be cancerous, but something just did not appear right. A more detailed CT scan revealed a small infarction, a condition that occurs when a small blood vessel branch becomes blocked by a blood clot.
Although this ailment requires no treatment, I had to ask why this would occur in such a healthy young woman. I ordered an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) that revealed a rare condition—a hole in the septum (the wall separating the right and left chambers of the heart). This defect can lead to blood clots forming in the heart and traveling to other areas of the body. The interventional cardiologist subsequently fixed the hole by passing a minimally invasive device to her heart through an artery in her groin. Without this procedure, the next blood clot could have traveled to her brain, causing a devastating stroke.
What real-life or fictional doctor inspired you to become a doctor?
My answer is not glamorous, but it runs deep. My older sister was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis when she was four, and Dr. Moskowitz was her rheumatologist. He was our family’s “Marcus Welby”—with the same compassion, sense of humor, and communication skills. I was the tagalong little brother, but I felt like part of the treatment team. I not only wanted to become a doctor, but I also wanted to emulate the kind of doctor that he was. My favorite pastime back then was “treating” my family members with my toy doctor’s kit. Along the way, I have had many great mentors who have led by example, but Dr. Moskowitz was the first. To honor his legacy, I treat every patient as I would a family member or close friend, and I try to make every surgery better than the last.
What medical breakthrough do you anticipate over the next 10 to 20 years that could change life as we now know it?
Artificial intelligence is already transforming many fields, including medicine. However, the real breakthrough will occur when we truly connect AI with the human factor. Machine learning will not replace a patient’s need for understanding the full picture of their medical condition and treatment options. Natural language processing will not replace the comforting words of a physician. The holy grail of AI is not to replace the doctor–patient relationship but rather to enhance it.
Photograph by Ben Rollins
Jayanthi Srinivasiah, MD
oncologist and hematologist
Georgia Cancer Specialists with Northside Cancer Institute
Is there a patient who stands out because they reminded you of why you wanted to become a doctor?
I am an oncologist treating aggressive cancers, and I have several patients that fit into that category. One case was a woman who was 33 and [diagnosed] with breast cancer. She had just had a child and also had very extensive cancer.
Her first question was whether she could see her child graduate. I felt that this was an impossible task with her metastatic disease. But the science showed newer and newer drugs that she was eligible for, and I was able to get her through multiple lines of therapy. I was able to keep her alive beyond her child’s graduation, and this is something that I am proud of. I have several patients in a similar situation and feel satisfied and also touched by how much these patients put into the fight against their illness.
What real-life or fictional doctor inspired you to become a doctor?
It was my grandfather, who was a doctor, and a different type of doctor, back home in India. He had thousands of patients and had a great touch and healed many patients. They admired him. He was the person who influenced me, and also has influenced me in terms of how he approached patients, through his care and love for every patient. The second person who influenced me was one of my teachers in residency, who was also an oncologist and took excellent care of her patients. She was my mentor.
What medical breakthrough do you anticipate over the next 10 to 20 years that could change life as we now know it?
I think we will have multiple new drugs available for cancer, and hopefully we will be able to give way better quality, and more numbers of patients surviving and coexisting with cancer treatment. I have multiple patients who I thought would not be alive and, in fact, are in complete response due to the newer drugs and breakthroughs.
In your field, what is the one way you wish patients would take better care of themselves?
I treat patients with cancer, who come to me most of the time after their diagnosis. I wish that they would go in for their screening studies and avoid cancer altogether. I feel that a colonoscopy to prevent colon cancer is probably one of the most important tests that they need to undergo. Breast cancer screening with mammography is also equally important. In addition to screening, patients need to follow a good diet and lower their metabolic risk, which is probably one of the most important things in preventing cancer.
Photograph by Ben Rollins
Mark D. Moncino, MD
developmental pediatrician
Georgia Center for Autism and Developmental Pediatrics
Why did you become a doctor?
My practice in developmental-behavioral pediatrics follows a high-intensity, low-volume model. Some think I am crazy to work 40 to 50 hours a week and call this my “retirement gig,” but that is what it is—that is how rewarding it is.
Many of the parents I work with have been told about their child’s weaknesses or challenges but haven’t received much guidance on how to address them. Whether it’s from organizations like early intervention programs, the public and private education systems, or from pediatricians who are stretched super thin and not paid for their expertise and the time it takes to support these youngest kids, the support often falls short. That is why I’ve structured my practice to dedicate the time needed to truly understand each child, gathering a comprehensive history, observing them closely, and collaborating with their parents to develop strategies for their success.
The most fulfilling moments come during follow-up visits when parents share how their children are exceeding their expectations—they are doing “fabulous!” Seeing these toddlers and young school-aged kids thrive, overcoming their previous behavioral challenges, and no longer facing the threat of expulsion from preschool or kindergarten, fills me with immense joy.
Witnessing the happiness in the children and the relief in their parents, who no longer feel overwhelmed by the system, reignites my passion for this work. This sense of fulfillment is priceless to me, and I would not trade it for anything.
Photograph by Ben Rollins
Lori Desoutter, MD
pediatrician
Pediatric Associates of North Atlanta
What has surprised you as you practice your specialty?
I knew what to expect as a new pediatrician, almost 30 years ago: caring for fragile and healthy newborns; following developmental milestones closely to get the children with delays into therapies and treatments as early as possible; diagnosing and treating a multitude of infectious diseases; treating chronic diseases like asthma, obesity, diabetes, and ADHD; diagnosing injuries and surgical emergencies quickly and correctly; and teaching parents how to cope with the endless challenges parenthood offers. It was a lot. But this is what we sign up for.
In the mid 2010s, we as pediatricians saw an uptick in mental health concerns. More and more patients were coming in to the office with a chief complaint of sadness, anxiety, low performance at school, withdrawal, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts. The problem we ran into immediately was that there were very few pediatric psychiatrists in the Atlanta area, and even fewer with availability to see new patients within a reasonable amount of time, or at all.
I enrolled in an anxiety and depression class at Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) to increase my knowledge base and improve my ability to provide pediatric mental healthcare. Our patients couldn’t wait. The following year, I retook the six-month course to learn even more. Project ECHO, which includes current patient cases, meets remotely every other week for an hour, and we are guided by a pediatric psychiatrist.
Fast-forward to 2022: All of our physicians, as well as our nurse practitioner, are certified through an intensive pediatric psychiatry course for primary care physicians.
Thirty years ago, I saw a lot of what the general public thinks of as “pediatric care.” Over the last 10 years, things have shifted, from 10 percent of my patients with mental health concerns to now, on any given day, 30 percent or more. We as physicians are lifelong learners, and will continue to pivot as our patients’ needs change. And I for one will encourage medical students to go into pediatrics or pediatric psychiatry.
Photograph by Ben Rollins
Maneesha Agarwal, MD
pediatric emergency medicine
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
What real-life or fictional doctor inspired you to become a doctor?
My childhood pediatrician’s name was also Dr. Agarwal.
She was a calm and warm Indian woman, always dressed in a sari, and amazing with children. At five years old, I knew I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. And, while I work with kids in a busy emergency department instead of a primary care office, and wear scrubs instead of a sari, I still try to exemplify her calm and warm demeanor amid the chaos of the busy pediatric emergency department.
In your field, what’s the one way you wish patients would take better care of themselves?
Injuries, like car crashes and drownings, are the leading cause of death in children in the U.S., and these injuries are preventable. I see this every shift I work in the pediatric emergency department. I wish parents, grandparents, and everyone that cares for children would remember this and take the steps to prevent these injuries.
Make sure your kids are in appropriately fitting car seats and booster seats. Help them learn to swim. Store potentially dangerous items, like medicines and guns, away from children. And role-model the safe behaviors you want your child to engage in. Wear your helmet, buckle your seat belt. Your kids are always watching!
Photograph by Ben Rollins
Alejandro Shepard, MD
pediatrician
Morehouse Healthcare
Is there a patient who stands out because you were reminded of why you wanted to become a doctor?
It seems simple, but the perceived ease of a suspected diagnosis brings me joy, and this particular patient situation confirmed that all those hours of study, missed events, and sleepless nights were worth it. He was a teenager who just was not feeling at his best. He was excessively tired and did not have the energy to do more than barely eat and watch TV.
After taking his history and doing a focused exam, I considered the possibilities. From the most grave to relatively benign, I meticulously scrolled through a rank-order list as I verbalized the supporting and contrary evidence for the diagnoses I was considering. I took a deep breath and said, “You know what? I know it sounds weird, but you look like you have mono.”
He had never heard of it, and Mom gave me a sly look, as if to ask, “Who’s he been kissing?” I smiled and told them about how mono is not just acquired from kissing, although it is very effectively spread that way. We did an in-house mono-spot test, and when it came back positive, Mom was astounded. She couldn’t believe that I had made an accurate diagnosis from the story and exam. The synergy of patient listening and clinical acumen that leads to diagnosis and education about prognosis/treatment is one of the things that first drew me to medicine.
What’s the one way you wish patients would take better care of themselves?
As a pediatrician, my patients are obviously the children I serve. But I also take care of their parents and families. I wish both groups would have more grace for themselves and try to avoid the comparison game that robs them of so many wonderful moments happening right now. That’s not to say to ignore concerns that get raised, but the mere fact that there are so many different opinions on how, when, or what to do is evidence that there are many safe and edifying ways to accomplish the goals we share: a healthy, happy, and well-loved child.
Erin Bowman, MD
breast surgeon
Atlanta Breast Care
Is there a patient or case that stands out because you were reminded of why you wanted to become a doctor?
The patient who reaffirmed my passion for my work was the first pregnant woman I diagnosed with breast cancer. At just 30 years old, she was juggling motherhood with a one-and-a-half-year-old son while carrying another child at 18 weeks. Following the biopsy, imaging scans revealed she had advanced stage IV breast cancer, a diagnosis with no surgical recourse, and only medical treatment. Seven years later, she is thriving and relishing motherhood. It is truly a testament to resilience and the power of science, and my work.
The convergence of two life-altering events—pregnancy and cancer—elicits a complex array of emotions. The diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy intertwines the joy of impending motherhood with the fear of a life-threatening illness. Witnessing this delicate balance of hope and despair ignites a sense of purpose. Last year, I had the incredible task of treating three remarkable expectant mothers within a span of six months, and we fought together to succeed with their treatment. One of those incredible women honored me by naming her son after me. These patients have etched an indelible mark on my heart, forever reminding me of the profound impact of my profession. In these pivotal encounters, the true essence of being a breast surgeon is revealed—not merely as a practitioner of medicine, but as a guardian of hope, healing, and humanity.
Tyler J. Kenning, MD
neurosurgeon
Piedmont Physicians Neurosurgery Atlanta
What real life or fictional doctor inspired you to become a doctor?
While I was discussing a research project with a prominent academic neurosurgeon by phone, he paused mid-sentence. He asked if I was any relation to a neurosurgeon of the same last name that he had known from his training. I answered that it was, in fact, my father. Expressing surprise, he said, “I can barely get my kids to talk to me . . . there’s not a chance that they would’ve gone into neurosurgery.”
Growing up, I watched my father work tirelessly, and I quickly realized that his was “work worth doing.” In the early years of my medical training, I often wondered if I pursued the practice of neurosurgery because I wanted to be a neurosurgeon or if I simply wanted to emulate my father. With time, I realized that the two were nearly synonymous—much of what defined him in his professional and personal life was dictated by his occupation. I have modeled my work ethic and my family life after my father. He has served as my greatest mentor in every aspect of my life. When balanced properly with life, neurosurgery is an enviable profession and can be a positive influence on one’s children. It truly embodies the virtues of Theodore Roosevelt’s sentiment that, “The best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
Michelle Juneau, MD
dermatologist
Dermatology Consultants
What real life or fictional doctor inspired you to become a doctor?
I grew up in a medical family in New Orleans. I was always in awe of how passionate my parents were about their jobs and patients. I enjoyed going to the hospital on the weekends with my father to make rounds. My own medical career started with the unexpected. I was an intern in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. The medical infrastructure was devastated. I was fortunate to learn how to be resourceful and best care for patients during a crisis, with limited supplies.
Every day is a medical mystery. I love piecing the puzzle together. The skin shows outward signs of systemic disease. It is an exciting time in all fields of medicine as research and technology seem to be growing exponentially. The ability to treat patients based on their personal genetic make up and truly customized treatments has already begun. This will continue to grow, and I believe will be the mainstream approach to patient care and treatment that will optimize patient outcomes and decrease morbidity and mortality.
Julie Fogarty McGill, MD
general surgeon
Atlanta Endocrine Surgery
Have you solved a “medical mystery” involving a patient with symptoms that didn’t suggest an obvious diagnosis?
Last fall I met a sweet young woman who had recently had a baby. During her postpartum period she had severe issues with blood pressure and she was having migraines, palpitations and episodes of sweating. She started also having chest pain and had a heart attack. She was admitted to the hospital, and during her stay, a CT scan was done. The scan showed a large tumor in her adrenal gland. I was consulted to help sort out this issue.
We suspected that she might have a rare adrenal tumor that produces adrenaline. This would explain her blood pressure, recent heart issues, sweating, and migraines. We coordinated with her cardiology team and her endocrinologist to prepare her for surgery to remove the tumor. Last month I performed a laparoscopic adrenalectomy. She immediately had complete resolution of her hypertension. She no longer has the other symptoms of sweating and migraines. She is recovering well from surgery and getting back to being able to take care of her new baby. The final pathology did show a pheochromocytoma—it was a benign version—and her labs now show normal levels.
Cathy L. Graham, MD
breast surgeon
Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital
Have you had an unexpected emergency situation outside the office that you dealt with?
Yes, I was the patient though, not the doctor. I was heading to work. Traffic slowed to a stop on I-75. The driver behind me hit my stopped car going 40 mph. Needless to say, it was a devastating crash. I suffered a life threatening closed head injury, facial injuries, spine fracture, and other complications. When I awoke in the trauma ICU, I encountered many nameless physicians, nurses, and medical professionals who had already spent weeks trying to save my life. When I was transferred to the Shepherd Center, I was told that I would likely never return to my life’s work, but that there was hope for me to function independently if I worked hard. Over the next six months there were dozens of physicians and therapists who worked with me to regain function and mental capacity.
Today, two years later, I am again a fully functioning surgical oncologist. I returned to the operating room six months after my injury. Some say my recovery was a miracle but to me, it was the dedicated hard work of so many unnamed and often unrecognized members of the greater Atlanta medical community who saved my life, supported my recovery, and have returned me to my life’s work. They are the real Top Docs of Atlanta.
Jacqueline Green, MD
neurologist
Laureate Medical Group
What real life or fictional (TV, film, book) doctor inspired you to become a doctor?
A television program about phantom pain was one of my first inspirations to become a doctor. I was fascinated by how the brain could “trick us” into feeling bodily sensations in limbs that had been amputated.
Is there a patient/case that stands out because you were reminded of why you wanted to become a doctor?
I met a patient who had been having multiple daily seizures for decades and did not have access to appropriate care. I was able to coordinate a referral to epilepsy surgeons. Through my persistence and not accepting “no” for an answer, he was able to have an appropriate surgery. His family reports he is participating in life for the first time in years and is not having seizures. I wanted to be a doctor to use my enthusiasm for medical science as a bridge to make connections with patients and their families and work together to improve their quality of life.
Amar Patel, MD
interventional cardiologist
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
What inspired you to become a doctor?
I’ve always been compelled by subsets of humanity whom I feel modern medicine may tend to neglect. I used to run a nightclub, and saw how the service industry was always thrown by the wayside due to lack of insurance or funding as money tended to be transitional. I was fortunate enough to matriculate in medical school, and my whole impetus was to help those less fortunate—as my focus lies with the service industry and immigrants. I don’t believe people should be slighted from healthcare and mental healthcare due to semantics out of their control. I will always be their pundit and biggest advocate.
Mary Alice Mina, MD
dermatologist
Baucom & Mina Derm Surgery
Have you solved a “medical mystery” involving a patient with symptoms that didn’t suggest an obvious diagnosis?
One of my favorite things about dermatology is that it is often a window into the inner workings of our body. Sometimes skin manifestations are the first sign of an internal problem. I once saw a woman in her 20s; I removed an abnormal mole on her scalp. When I was treating her, I couldn’t help but notice that her skin on the neck looked very sun damaged and aged with thickening and wrinkling. This seemed out of place in someone of her age. I knew there was a genetic condition called pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) where people had abnormal elastin in the skin leading to what is called “chicken skin” where the skin looked more aged than expected. Elastin is also important in our blood vessels and eyes, and when PXE is advanced, patients can get retinal hemorrhages, heart attacks, strokes, and valve problems. Being able to identify this condition before these problems arise is critical. I did a biopsy on my patient, and it did turn out to be PXE. Thankfully this young woman was able to get plugged in with an eye and heart doctor. So oftentimes, what we see on the skin’s surface is more than skin deep.
Monica Best, MD
reproductive endocrinology and infertility
Reproductive Biology Associates
Is there a patient who stands out because you were reminded of why you wanted to become a doctor?
I was a year into my practice when I treated an athletic and energetic young woman in her early 20s named Maggie. Unfortunately, Maggie had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Maggie was referred to me by her oncologist to discuss fertility preservation prior to undergoing the recommended chemotherapy that would accelerate loss of healthy eggs and could prevent Maggie from being able to conceive using her own eggs in the future. Unlike the dark cloud of the looming cancer diagnosis, discussion of the hope egg freezing would bring once cancer was behind her provided a glimmer of light in the darkness for Maggie. There are few things that match the importance and joy of helping patients safeguard their ability to build families. This moment, early in my career, confirmed I had chosen a field of medicine in which I could be passionate about the ability to connect intimately with patients and help them navigate barriers to infertility that can sometimes be daunting but also inspire hope.
Keisha Dennard-Hall, MD
OB/GYN
Obstetrics and Gynecology of Atlanta
Is there a patient who stands out because you were reminded of why you wanted to become a doctor?
As a third year medical student, I hopped on the hospital elevator one day in an incredible hurry. From behind me, I heard one of the young girls who was already on the elevator say to her friend, “That’s the doctor who delivered my baby.” I looked around and surprisingly realized that she was pointing at me. She was excited to have bumped into me and had a brightness of familiarity in her eyes as she gazed into mine. It was immediately clear that I held a special presence in her memory, but there were a few things that she didn’t realize. I was just a medical student and it had been eight months since I had done that OB/GYN rotation where I had probably just “observed” and not actually performed her delivery.
What she also would never know is that that moment in the elevator was a life-changing moment for me. It was that encounter that confirmed my decision to pursue a career as an OB/GYN. I was driven by the opportunity to guide life safely into this world, the pure honor of having someone place their faith and trust in you during such a vulnerable time, and the ability to make a memorable impact in such a special period of a woman’s life. For someone like me, who was a first generation college student and the first in her family to have the opportunity to attend medical school, this was an incredible feeling. I have now been in practice for over 22 years, having cared for a multitude of women and delivered thousands of babies. I have never lost sight, however, of what a privilege it is to have the trust of a patient just like that one in the elevator that day.
Brittani L. Barrett Harlow, MD
urologist
Georgia Urology
Is there a patient who stands out because you were reminded of why you wanted to become a doctor?
In urology, we often deal with a lot of intimate issues that patients are too embarrassed to talk about or to seek help for. One particular patient had undergone treatment for prostate cancer by one of my colleagues. One of the side effects from radiation can be difficulties with erections. The fact that he came with his wife is unique because oftentimes men will show up alone. They don’t want their spouse to know their shortcomings or their insecurities regarding their erections, and they’re too embarrassed or ashamed to have anyone else there with them. He kept saying how he felt that he was less of a man as he wasn’t able to be intimate like he used to. His wife kept saying that although she missed the intimate portions, she didn’t love him less and didn’t change her desire to be with him.
We went through different treatment options, one of which is a penile implant. He underwent surgery, had a great outcome, and when I saw them back at three months, you could really tell that it changed their life. His wife actually stopped me in the middle of the hallway before I even got into the exam room and gave me a huge hug and, teary-eyed, said that she was so grateful that they had undergone the procedure. And I say, “they.” Yes, he had the surgery, but intimacy is a couples disease. When one person is suffering, the couple suffers. She told me that it rekindled a spark in their marriage that she did not think would ever come back. So it’s times like that that make me appreciate the training I’ve undergone to offer patients these breakthrough therapeutic options that allow them to gain back some quality of life.
This article appears in our July 2024 issue.
