Minute Mentor: Internal Medicine Physician Dr. Walters

Minute Mentor is a series of posts profiling real people achieving their dreams. It began with the simple idea that “seeing is being.”  When cofounders Rick and Faye’s oldest son was born, it was clear he was musically inclined. He was playing piano by ear at age 4 and neither of them ever even picked up an instrument! When Faye remembered an old neighbor who had gone on to become a Julliard trained musician, she immediately reached out to him and said, “What do we do?”  He patiently answered all of her questions on how best to nurture her budding musician.

Minute Mentor provides a space for real people to tell their stories so if you or your little one is in search of mentorship on how to achieve their dreams, you can look no further than right here! Sometimes the best inspiration comes from seeing someone that looks like you achieving similar goals.

If you have any questions or comments for the featured guest, leave a comment, and we will do our best to bring it to their attention! Happy imagining!

Name: Dr. Walters

Age Category: 25-40

Occupation: Physician

Education: Bachelors degree; Masters degree; Medical degree

Career Level:

• Entry
• Mid-level
• Executive
• Entrepreneur
• Retired

How hard do you work? 

• Lots of Leisure Time
• Typical 40-50hr Workweek
• More than Average
• I never stop working

Lifestyle/Income: 

• Side Hustle/Didn’t Quit My Day Job
• Getting By
• My bills are Paid with Some Room for Fun
• You get a car! You get a car!

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from?

I hail from the beautiful island of Jamaica and grew up in New York City, land of opportunity

What kind of student were you?

I have always loved school. I was the type of student who would cry if there was a snow day, and I was unable to attend. I loved school for two reasons: 1) I truly enjoyed learning and 2) I wanted to spend time with my friends. My motivation to work hard in school was mainly to see the look of pride on my parent’s faces.

Describe your current job/jobs:

I am an Internal Medicine doctor. As an Internal Medicine doctor, I treat sick people ages 18 and older. My day consists of admitting patients to the hospital and then taking care of them throughout their stay in the hospital. I work with a comprehensive health care team that includes, but not limited to nurses, dieticians, physical therapists, case managers, and other physicians to provide the best care possible to bring about healing.

What education level is required for your job? Tests? Certificates? Years of School?

A Bachelor’s Degree of any type (as long as prerequisite classes for medical school are taken), Medical school (4 yrs) and an Internal Medicine Residency program (3 yrs).

It’s not often one has a childhood dream that comes to fruition. This has been a long and ardous journey. With the changes in healthcare and the typical work place politics, when I walk into a patient’s room and see their gratitude for my service and sometimes their happiness that I simply just listened to them, it reminds me of why I chose to be a doctor in the first place: to provide excellent health care with compassion.

Did you have a mentor/mentors? How did you meet?

I have had mentors along the way at each juncture of my educational journey. The most consistent and salient mentor that I have has been my husband. He has had spent numerous years working in higher education and has had much experience with the graduate school process. He has been not only my biggest cheerleader but has also helped me to figure out the steps necessary to each stage of my journey. Whatever he did not know, he would look it up or find someone who could help answer questions. That type of dedication makes him an ideal mentor. One does not have to have the same experiences you are seeking, but if they are committed to your success, then it is an ideal mentor-mentee partnership.

How did you get your current job?

I was recruited by a headhunter.

Is your job family-friendly?

Yes, I typically work 12 hours days, but being a team in marriage makes it more than manageable.

Do you find your work fulfilling?

Extremely! It’s not often one has a childhood dream that comes to fruition. This has been a long and ardous journey. With the changes in healthcare and the typical work place politics, when I walk into a patient’s room and see their gratitude for my service and sometimes their happiness that I simply just listened to them, it reminds me of why I chose to be a doctor in the first place: to provide excellent health care with compassion.

Did you always know you wanted to be a doctor?

Yes, I have known since I was in probably in the 2^nd grade. I was inspired by Bill Cosby’s character, Cliff Huxtable, on the Cosby show. At that time, up until my 1^st year of medical school, I was set on being an Obstetrician/Gynecologist, which is a type of doctor who delivered babies and took care of women’s reproductive health. I quickly realized that I wanted a broader scope of practice, which led me to the practice of internal medicine.

 What, if any, setbacks have you faced? How did you overcome them to accomplish your goals?

I think of it more so as challenges that encouraged me to change habits that were not beneficial to my success. I had to improve study habits; dedicating more time to researching my interests, being flexible about things that were out of my control; and most importantly, actively speaking words of faith and encouragement to myself. Most of my “setbacks” were due to unproductive and false worrying about my own intelligence and abilities.

You are enough and worthy. If you want to become a doctor and provide excellent compassionate care, then stay the course. It is a long journey, and there are many other fields/jobs that have a much more truncated path but if this is your dream, then find mentors and resources to make your dream a reality.

What advice would you give a parent of a child/young adult interested in pursuing a job in your field? What advice would you give them on pursuing any career goal?

You are enough and worthy. If you want to become a doctor and provide excellent compassionate care, then stay the course. It is a long journey, and there are many other fields/jobs that have a much more truncated path but if this is your dream, then find mentors and resources to make your dream a reality.

Any journey that you choose is never taken alone. Be grateful and acknowledge those that have supported you throughout. They are invaluable and necessary.

***

About The Author

Faye McCray is an attorney by day and writer all the time. Her work has been featured on My Brown Baby, AfroPunk, AfroNews, For Harriet, Madame Noire, Black Girl Nerds, Black and Married with Kids, and other popular publications.  Faye also has a number of short stories and a full length novel available for purchase on Amazon.  Most importantly, Faye is a proud wife and mother to three beautiful and talented young boys who she is fiercely passionate about raising. You can find Faye on Twitter @fayewrites and on the web at fayemccray.com.