Confessions of Melanated Docs

Let's be real, eathing healthy can be challenging. Many of us have the best intentions to eat right and to be healthy and fit. But, junk food calls our names. We chat it up with Stephanie Rice, RD to discuss some of these problems. As a registered dietician, she teaches us about healthy eating habits and ways to make better choices. Also Chronic illnesses can play a huge role in influencing what we eat, especially if we want to live longer. Sometimes we have to modify our food choices secondary to various illnesses. Stephanie speaks with us on how we can still enjoy life eating foods we enjoy while being cognizant of illnesses and watching our weight.

In this episode of Confessions of Melanated Docs, we chat with Yvette who is the owner of Purpose Travel Group. We discuss traveling while black and places that melanated individuals should visit. We also discuss her initiative with her foundation "Assisting Kids in African Villages". Please tune in and learn helpful traveling tips and how you can book amazing trips curated for the melanated experience.

In this episode we talk with Dr. Megan Thomas about being a boss and having a blended family. She gets real about her life and how she manages it all. She is an inspiration to those who don’t take the traditional path and blazes their own. Her story is a great example of hard work and perseverance. You do not want to miss this episode! Please listen and tell us what you think.

This week we sat down with Dr. Natasha Pyfrom as we discussed sex, dating and many things in between. Dr. Pyfrom is currently practicing as a Family Medicine Physician. In this episode, she gives us invaluable wisdom, lessons learned and several pearls for everyday life. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this one. Everything is up for discussion. Tune in and let us know what you think.

Hey y'all hey! We are back for the new year. We can’t wait to share our new experiences with everyone. On this episode of “Confessions of Melanated Docs” we talk with Dr. Morgan Price about motherhood, family structure, and being a young professional. Family structure can look different for many individuals especially now. On this episode, we have an honest discussion about how Dr. Price navigates this new era in her life all while being a Boss! Please listen and let us know what you think. 01:41 Introduction of Dr. Morgan Price 04:28 Why did Dr. Price decide to become a dentist and who helped sparked the interest 06:56 How is dentistry different from her early exposure vs. now being a dentist 09:11 What Surprised her the most about dentistry 09:40 Leadership roles as a dentist 10:48 Being in leadership while being young and melanated 12:30 Roadblocks while being in a leadership position 14:22 Will sexism and ageism ever change? 16:46 Ageism dissected 18:30 Being a new Mom as a professional 19:17 Fed is Best 20:51 Mommy Guilty and managing body changes 23:00 Cabbages and breasts 24:25 Waiting to become a mother 26:37 Do you loose a part of yourself to become a mother? 28:12 Being a single mom 30:15 Single mothers by choice 34:19 Changes in the family structure 36:30 Navigating different roles in life 37:31 What would you rather? 43:47 What’s next to accomplish 46:07 Confession time

Social Media has been very poignant to our lives in numerous ways over the years. It has allowed us to form connections that we didn’t know were possible and forge new communities. Please join us along with Camellia Green, a licensed mental health provider, as we delve into the positive and negative impacts of social media. We will also discuss helpful tools to navigate social media.

“Honestly...” is a new segment of our podcast “Confessions of Melanated Docs”. Here we talk with other Melanated Docs about life, work, wellness, current events and more. This week our Melanated Docs Spotlight is on Dr. Aniika Jackson-Smith. Dr. Aniika Jackson-Smith is a native of New Orleans, LA. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1999. In the years following graduation, she taught 7th grade science at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in New Orleans. In the fall of 2002 Dr. Jackson matriculated at Creighton University Medical Center School of Dentistry in Omaha, NE. She completed her studies at Creighton in 2006 earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree. Upon graduation, she entered into a General Practice Residency at Louisiana State University School of Dentistry. Dr. Jackson was among some of the first healthcare providers to return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Thus, providing a much needed service to the citizens returning to rebuild the city. In 2008 Dr. Jackson-Smith relocated to Kansas City. She enjoys treating patients and doing community outreach. She is committed to providing quality care to underserved, underinsured and uninsured individuals. As such, the majority of her 15 year career has been spent working in Federally Qualified Health Centers or similar institutions. Over the years, she has mentored countless aspiring dental and medical professionals. You are also very likely to find her in school classrooms introducing students students to the dental profession and promoting HBCU’s. She loves talking to youth about her profession and her beloved XU! She currently serves at Deputy Dental Director at one of the largest health centers in Missouri. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who is passionate about improving the health outcomes of African-American infants and moms through breastfeeding advocacy and support. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 daughters, crafting and online “window” shopping. She is the owner of Nia Rae’s Fine New Orleans Pecan Candy. She gets home to New Orleans as often as she can! Check out our conversation on our podcast in “Honestly…”!

Do you ever wonder how others are able to do the absolute most on a daily basis? You are not alone! We find ourselves asking these same questions. Is the phrase “work-life balance” simply a common saying in these post-pandemic times? As Melanated Docs, our lives can be hectic, and balance can seem unachievable. In this new episode of Confessions of Melanated Docs, we explore work-life balance and what it means to us. To be honest, most of us are all out here juggling careers, families, side hustles etc. Life can be unforgiving and hectic. Take a deep breath and listen to our latest episode as we dive in and explore the notion of work-life balance, what it means, if it’s achievable, and ways to be successful. We are your Melanated Docs. Take this journey with us. Timestamps: 2:31 Our Definition of Work Life Balance 5:15 Is balance achievable 7:20 It’s layers to it 8:20 The Millennial take 9:50 Know who you are and what you want 11:50 There are difference in what each individual need 15:56 Books that are helpful to read 17:18 Importance of therapy 20:00 Difference in Values of Generations 23:48 Manifestations of stress 27:37 Stop Comparing 30:28 Delegate 33:34 Time is invaluable 34:00 How to manage Burnout 40:37 Take a break 43:00 Helpful Apps 44:22 Saying NO and creating boundaries 46:06 How to say NO at work 51:49 The notion of being perfect 55:12 Confession time Sources used and referenced in this episode: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/work-life-balance/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2018/03/27/the-evolving-definition-of-work-life-balance/?sh=1bc7bb449ed3 https://hbr.org/2021/01/work-life-balance-is-a-cycle-not-an-achievement https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021002208 https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/05/work-life-balance/590662/ https://hbr.org/2019/04/preventing-busyness-from-becoming-burnout https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/05/work-life-balance/590662/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/work-life-balance/art-20048134 Check out our website: https://www.melanateddocs.co/ Please email questions or comments to: melanateddocs@gmail.com Get your Melanated Docs Merch at our online shop !!! Let's stay connected on Social Media: Instagram: @melanateddocs Facebook: Melanated Docs The hashtag for this podcast is #melanateddocs Our Production Team: Dr. Keisha Butler, Dr. Catrina Johnson, Agency Emerald

The daily struggle of Melanated Docs can be real. You are not alone in feeling this way. In this world of many titles, why do some feel that it's ok to not call us "Doctor"? Respect our boundaries, please! The title of "Doctor" helps to solidify our position on the ladder of success that we have worked so hard to secure. Don’t try to knock us down a notch by trying to diminish these degrees. Some have the privilege of being mediocre and are still afforded access to incredible opportunities. Why can others be mediocre and we must incessantly strive for excellence? The dichotomy of being "melanated and educated" should not exist. The two are not mutually exclusive. Throughout this journey of becoming a doctor, we were not given anything. Respectfully, we earned these degrees. In this episode, we discuss the many woes endured as Melanated Docs. The misnomer of calling us by our first names, working harder than "others", and struggling to assert ourselves more are just some of the daily problems we face. We discuss these topics plus more while providing insight into our lives. It is imperative that we try to shift the perception of what it means to be a Melanated Doc. In doing so, we can potentially decrease the numerous health disparities of minority and marginalized individuals. We want to reiterate the notion that Melanated Docs belong too.

The New Year can spark feelings of excitement and optimism. It can also trigger feelings of anxiety. Do you still believe in new beginnings? It may be cliché, but a New Year, New You might be just what we need. The idea of a blank slate is worth reflecting on. This can be the time to set a new trajectory for our lives, careers, or whatever else we want to change. A new year can be the time to pivot. Resolutions might not be for everyone, but for many it is an opportunity to attempt to implement change. Will these changes actually occur? That is another story for a different day. For those who partake in the act of making New Year’s resolutions, do you believe in the magic of resolutions? Are we sharing our goals that we want to accomplish? Are we keeping those thoughts to ourselves? In this episode we explore fresh starts, resolutions, and how to set big audacious goals. This is the time to set dreams ablaze and push forward with the wisdom from the past year. As Melanated Docs, we are setting new goals and discussing our process of accomplishing them. New beginnings await us. Thank you for deciding to check out our show! We will have candid conversations and open discussions about what it means to be a melanated doctor. We hope to inspire, uplift and encourage prospective and existing Melanated Docs. We are all about diversifying healthcare one melanated doc at a time. Take this journey with us! Please email questions or comments to: melanateddocs@gmail.com Stay Connected on Social Media: Instagram: @melanateddocs https://www.instagram.com/melanateddocs/ YouTube: Confessions of Melanated Docs https://youtu.be/rcFE8EaZK74 Facebook: Melanated Docs https://www.facebook.com/melanateddocs/about/ The hashtag for this podcast is #melanateddocs Our Production Team: Dr. Keisha Butler, Dr. Catrina Johnson, @emeraldaveagency

Dating life can be challenging to say the least. When you add on the layers of professional school, trying to stay healthy, and maintaining other relationships, it's a new level of multitasking. Even if you have all the time and energy to devote to finding a suitable partner, this process can still can be hectic. How does the overly ambitious goal getter find love while loving themselves? There are often some difficult questions to ask yourself when trying to find love as a Melanated Doc. Do you believe that you need a partner from a certain cultural/ socioeconomic background? Does your partner have to have the same educational level, or similar income? Do you even have the time to entertain potential suitors? We dive into these topics while giving you a glimpse into our lives and our dating journeys. In this episode of “Confessions of Melanated Docs” we discuss dating life, finding your person, frustrations, agonies and personal growth all while being a Melanated Doc. Thank you for deciding to check out our show! We will have candid conversations and open discussions about what it means to be a melanated doctor. We hope to inspire, uplift and encourage prospective and existing Melanated Docs. We are all about diversity one Melanated Doc at a time. Take this journey with us! Please email questions or comments to: melanateddocs@gmail.com Check out our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Stay Connected on Social Media: Instagram: @melanateddocs YouTube: Confessions of Melanated Docs Facebook: Melanated Docs The hashtag for this podcast is #melanateddocs Twitter: @melanated_docs Our Production Team: Dr. Keisha Butler, Dr. Catrina Johnson, @emeraldaveagency

In this episode, we impart a bit more wisdom while sharing some of our own personal experiences. We discuss more details on what it means to be a Melanated Doc. We talk about professionalism, having the support of family, and finding your tribe. Be ready for some laughs and solemn moments. Join us as we reminisce and reflect back on our journey of becoming Melanated Docs. Thank you for deciding to check out our show! We will have candid conversations and open discussions about what it means to be a melanated doctor. We hope to inspire, uplift and encourage prospective and existing Melanated Docs. We are all about diversifying healthcare one Melanated Doc at a time. Take this journey with us! Please email questions or comments to: melanateddocs@gmail.com Check out our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Stay Connected on Social Media: Instagram: @melanateddocs YouTube: Confessions of Melanated Docs Facebook: Melanated Docs The hashtag for this podcast is #melanateddocs Twitter: @melanated_docs Our Production Team: Dr. Keisha Butler, Dr. Catrina Johnson, @emeraldaveagency

Figuring out professional school can be such a daunting task. First generation Melanted Docs can face many challenges throughout the process of matriculation, passing boards, applying to a residency program, graduation and beyond. In this episode we discuss our academic experiences and shed light on how we successfully navigated professional school while being the first in our families to embark upon this journey. Thank you for deciding to check out our show! We will have candid conversations and open discussions about what it means to be a melanated doctor. We hope to inspire, uplift and encourage prospective and existing Melanated Docs. We are all about diversifying healthcare one melanated doc at a time. Take this journey with us! Please email questions or comments to: melanateddocs@gmail.com Stay Connected on Social Media: Instagram: @melanateddocs https://www.instagram.com/melanateddocs/ YouTube: Confessions of Melanated Docs https://youtu.be/rcFE8EaZK74 Facebook: Melanated Docs https://www.facebook.com/melanateddocs/about/ The hashtag for this podcast is #melanateddocs Our Production Team: Dr. Keisha Butler, Dr. Catrina Johnson, @emeraldaveagency

What is a Melanated Doc? A Melanated Doc is one who is true to his or herself while pushing boundaries and making healthcare a better space for all shades of melanin. Here we explore what it takes to become a Melanated Doc and to succeed in your chosen field. We will provide you with helpful tools on how to make your dreams an actual reality. Thank you for deciding to check out our show! We will have candid conversations and open discussions about what it means to be a melanated doctor. We hope to inspire, uplift and encourage prospective and existing Melanated Docs. We are all about diversifying healthcare one melanated doc at a time. Take this journey with us! Please email questions or comments to: melanateddocs@gmail.com Stay Connected on Social Media: Instagram: @melanateddocs https://www.instagram.com/melanateddocs/ YouTube: Confessions of Melanated Docs https://youtu.be/rcFE8EaZK74 Facebook: Melanated Docs https://www.facebook.com/melanateddocs/about/ The hashtag for this podcast is #melanateddocs Our Production Team: Dr. Keisha Butler, Dr. Catrina Johnson, @emeraldaveagency