ville’ s affiliate to the NMA, the nation’ s oldest and largest organization of Black physicians. My responsibilities included attending FCMS’ s meetings, facilitating communication and coordinating programming between both organizations. It was this very role that ultimately led me to Dr. Adkins and commenced her invaluable mentorship with me.
Dr. Adkins served as the treasurer of FCMS and would later transition to leading the chapter as President, inciting change within the community at large. For me, she was revolutionary: a mentor who pushed me beyond my comfort zone, encouraging me to embrace leadership in a way that was unfamiliar yet transformative. One of the most memorable events that tested this growth was through the Pathway to Medicine Partnership Program, an innovative initiative she founded to support under-resourced schools in Louisville by increasing exposure to medicine, and developing engaging curriculum to inspire young students. One of the lessons we designed together involved guiding sixth and seventh graders at Grace James Academy through the dissection of sheep hearts. On the morning of the lesson, I was nervous, unsure if I could connect with the students and translate my medical knowledge in an engaging way. Dr. Adkins, in her signature way, gave me a motivating pep talk and took the lead at the start to ease me in.
As the class progressed, I found myself connecting with the students, leading the dissection, discussing the heart’ s key structures, explaining cardiovascular diseases and answering their eager questions. By the end of the last session, I was truly in awe. I had led over 100 students, many of whom left more excited and curious about medicine than when they arrived.
Unknowingly at the time, Dr. Adkins would play a pivotal role in shaping my journey into anesthesiology. Later that same year, I found myself falling short on hours for our school’ s mandatory preceptorship. As the deadline approached, Dr. Adkins graciously offered me the opportunity to rotate with her in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit( CVICU) and the operating room. My time with her revealed a woman who remained poised under pressure, adapted quickly to ever-changing circumstances and maintained such a positive outlook in unpredictable, high-stress situations. Spending countless hours with her, I gained a deeper understanding of the resilience and advocacy central to anesthesiology, sparking my growing passion for the field.
The quality I admired most in Dr. Adkins was how despite being the softest-spoken person in the room, her words and actions were the loudest. I saw her advocate for patients in the OR, where they had no voice, and stand firm in the CVICU, prioritizing their best interests even when it meant disagreeing with others. Her leadership and integrity were evident in her role as Cardiovascular Critical Care Division Chief and Associate Director.
In truth, I believe I was drawn to this aspect of Dr. Adkins because I saw so much of myself in her. Like her, I’ m a soft-spoken, young-appearing Black woman learning to find my voice and remain unapologetically authentic in a field that often makes our presence feel small and question our belonging and competence.
Dr. Adkins’ greatest influence was her relentless commitment to my journey, especially when I struggled to find my way. Midway through my third year, I took a year-long leave of absence to navigate personal and health challenges, including major surgery, while restudying for a critical board exam. To be fully transparent, I nearly lost sight of my goals and even contemplated walking away from medicine altogether.
Thankfully, Dr. Adkins helped me regain clarity and purpose. During my recovery, she took me to dinner, providing a safe space to be vulnerable. With honesty, she shared her own struggles and how they never stopped her from pursuing anesthesiology, matching into an incredible residency and completing a critical care fellowship.
In true Dr. Adkins fashion, she is one of the humblest people I know. She never mentioned where she completed her fellowship, and I only recently learned it was at Duke University Hospital. What impressed me most wasn’ t the institution, but her resilience, quiet strength and tenacity. Her story moved me to tears and inspired me to confront my own areas for growth.
At the conclusion of our meeting, I asked her if it was still possible to pursue, let alone match into anesthesiology— a field that had become increasingly competitive in a world that offers very few second chances. Enthusiastically, she responded,“ Absolutely! I know you’ re more than capable and I’ m here to support you.”
Her words quickly became a huge source of inspiration. That day, I vowed to pursue my dreams boldly, silencing both external skepticism and my own self-doubt. I embraced a focused period of rebuilding, seizing every opportunity to regain my footing.
In my effort to reclaim my power, Dr. Adkins stood by me, honoring every promise she made. I’ d shortly discover an opportunity to gain more exposure to the important work being done nationally, as part of the American Society of Anesthesiologists( ASA) Diversity Equity and Inclusion Medical Student Mentorship Program. Despite learning about the program just two days before the deadline, Dr. Adkins swiftly wrote my letter of recommendation, allowing me to submit my application on time.
When Dr. Adkins sent her letter to me, I was moved to tears. She highlighted strengths about me that I had not yet recognized in myself. I had to re-read it several times, almost in disbelief that she was describing me.
I truly believe that her advocacy played a significant role in my selection for the program. To officially enroll, participants were required to attend the 2023 ASA Conference in San Francisco, CA. In preparation for this trip, Dr. Adkins introduced me to several inclusive spaces within the field, one of the most impactful being the Evelyn E. Henley Society. As an active member, she was part of this prestigious national community of Black anesthesiologists dedicated to promoting diversity, education and professional development within the specialty.
I vastly underestimated the transformative power of the Medical Student Mentorship Program and the Henley Society. They were
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