8BB AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE SUN SENTINEL FRIDAY , DECEMBER 16 , 2016
By : Zach Rinkins
Dr . James W . Bridges
Obstetrics-gynecology ( OBGYN ) is one of the most challenging , demanding , and busiest medical special�es among physicians . Babies don ’ t schedule appointments . In many cases , they come whenever they are ready , regardless of the hour . For James W . Bridges , M . D ., one of Miami ’ s pioneering Black cer�fied OBGYNs , the ministry of delivering babies is thrilling .
“ Obstetricians are trained to wake up at two and three o ’ clock in the morning . You
By : Zach Rinkins
Dr . James W . Bridges
If you met Carla Hill , you might get enveloped by her frank demeanor , undeniable humanity , and profound apprecia�on for life . She gained tremendous faith and perspec�ve by overcoming what the Centers for Disease
Dr . James W . Bridges : Willing Servant , Reluctant Icon
can be at birthday par�es or other social events and get called out for deliveries ,” Dr . Bridges beams . “ That was really a part of the excitement and fun of being an OBGYN . I enjoyed every bit of my prac�ce . I never regre�ed ge�ng up in the morning or leaving my office to perform a delivery .”
Bridges made history in 1960 when he graduated from Meharry Medical College and become the first Black resident at the formally segregated Jackson Memorial Hospital .
“ That was the first year that they integrated the hospital ,” he discloses “ They did away with the black wards and the white wards . I don ’ t know what it was like before I got there , but there was not any problem . The staff was helpful and I s�ll keep in contact with many of them .”
The U . S . Census bureau notes Blacks comprise 4-percent of the na�on ’ s
physicians . Addi�onally , an Associa�on of American Medical Colleges study revealed that more Black men applied for medical school in 1978 than in 2015 . Inspired by his dad , the Bridges family is doing its part to reverse that trend .
“ My father only went to the eighth grade . He was a great believer that the best way to serve the community was to become a physician ,” he shares . “ I am pleased to say that we have seven physicians that came from the roots of my father .”
The first genera�on of Bridges physicians is James and sister , Ouida , a local pediatrician . The second genera�on includes a a son , Lloyd a University of Miami-educated family physician prac�cing in North Carolina ; younger son Mark is a University of Pennsylvania-trained Miami-based orthopedic surgeon ; and nephew , Khari H . Bridges prac�ces Dermatology in South Florida , in addi�on to a niece and a daughter-in-law in medicine .
Bridges later became a first black fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Florida and first black president of the Dade County Medical
Carla Hill Conquers Cancer Twice
Control and Preven�on ( CDC ) call the second leading cause of death among cancer pa�ents . Hill is one of the 3.1 million American women who ’ ve experienced breast cancer , per the American Cancer Society ( ACS ).
“ Before my diagnosis , I was healthy . I exercised , ate right , and didn ’ t drink or smoke ,” reveals Hill , who had a kidney transplant in 2000 and first felt a lump in her breast five years later . “ I had the lump biopsied . I went through chemotherapy , and it was horrible .”
“ The en�re process was very scary . There are moments where you cry and scream . You don ’ t have to live up to a superwoman image .”
For decades , Black women were ge�ng breast cancer at slower rates than white women , per CDC records . ACS data shows the gap is now closing due to an up�ck in Black women diagnosed . Despite fewer cases ; Black women have a grimmer prognosis . As Susan G . Komen informa�on notes , they are 39-percent more likely to die from the disease than their white counterparts . Two years a�er Hill ’ s first mastectomy ( surgery to remove all breast �ssue ), her doctors discovered another mass on her remaining breast while she was having a precau�onary mammogram .
“ I had a recurrence . I choose mastectomy the second �me , as well ,” she shares . “ I felt that breasts were not as important as being alive and on the earth .” “ I refer to myself as the breast-less beauty because I am one of the rare people who choose double mastectomy without reconstruc�on .”
Hill says she overcame the deadly disease by picking the right facility and building a support system .
“ The University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center was the best op�on for me because of its heavy emphasis on research ,” she discloses . “ We wanted to beat the cancer , but we wanted to make sure my kidney was accounted for in the medical regimen . UM hospitals handled my kidney transplant . The doctors being connected was helpful .” Mental toughness and support were also cri�cal .
“ Having a strong mental game and faith are necessary to overcome cancer ,” she says . “ I remember sharing my diagnosis with some people . Some of them said , ‘ I know someone who died from breast cancer .’ I didn ’ t want to hear that . I wanted
Associa�on . He says his four-decade career was dedicated to loving his pa�ents and providing the best care possible .
“ I am most proud of my ac�vi�es with star�ng and working with the community health centers because they helped a lot of poor people ,” he reflects . “ I ’ m especially proud of my work as a board member of Chris�an Hospital , the only Black hospital in Miami . We worked liked mad trying to save that hospital . We were not successful , and it finally closed . But , I enjoyed the work . I also loved working with the local Na�onal Medical Associa�on chapter .” The trailblazing physician was honored when the chapter renamed itself the James Wilson Bridges , M . D . Medical Society in 2007 . A�er many years in private prac�ce , he con�nued to serve greatly in the local community health movement .
These days the re�red octogenarian enjoys visi�ng his family ( which includes his wife , daughter , and several grandchildren ) and on Mondays , Wednesday and Fridays , you can find him on the golf course . He a�ributes his success to his father ’ s guidance and the work and encouragement of Drs . George and Dazelle Simpson , J . O . Brown , William Pa�erson , and others .
to live through my experience . So , being posi�ve , limi�ng your circle , and giving yourself permission to feel like crap is a good thing .”
These days , Hill is unapologe�cally living her truth out loud .
“ I told my husband that I am living my second adolescence . Sure , there are challenges and bad days , but I have to distract myself ,” she admits . “ I have a kidney that ’ s 16 years old ; I am 11 years cancer-free from the first experience . And , almost 10 years cancer-free from the second �me . I do more things that I enjoy like hos�ng , gigs and traveling . This helps keep my mind off of things .”
“ Before my diagnosis , I was healthy . I exercised , ate right , and didn ’ t drink or smoke ."