One Alumna’s Journey to Becoming a Rare Woman of Color in Gastroenterology

As I walked through the black iron gates, passing the silhouette of a roaring bear glaring in the sun, I felt a rush of excitement wash over me. Walking on the campus toward Sulzberger Hall felt like one of many comfortable walks I would take in the years to come. Barnard felt like home. 

My dream of becoming a doctor, one I held since the age of five, would begin with majoring in biology. I enjoyed Barnard’s small, seminar-style classes and having the majority of faculty comprised of accomplished women. I formed meaningful connections with my professors and bonded with classmates after long hours in science lab in Altschul Hall. A cherished memory will always be my first finals week, devouring sandwiches from the Big Sub that stretched across the entire campus and snacking on French toast sticks served by beloved professors at Midnight Breakfast. During summer breaks, I was off campus participating in pre-medical programs. At Duke University, I took medical school-level classes and MCAT preparation courses. At Johns Hopkins University, I conducted pediatric hematology research. These experiences, both on and off campus, prepared me well for medical school at George Washington University. I felt confident that my education at Barnard had given me the foundation to face any challenge and equipped me with essential tools for success.

Attending medical school was like riding a long, unpredictable rollercoaster. You step on willingly, knowing there will be thrilling highs and difficult lows. Living more than 200 miles away from family added a layer of trepidation. Fortunately, my loving parents visited every other weekend, cooking my favorite Haitian meals and helping with errands. I was also incredibly fortunate to have my college sweetheart, whom I met at Columbia during sophomore year, just minutes away while attending law school. His unwavering support helped me stay grounded. During this time, I also relied on my spirituality and faith in God, which became a vital pillar in my self-care routine. In 2010, the rollercoaster ended joyfully with my graduation, an amazing wedding, and a long-awaited move back home to New York to begin my residency. 

My Internal Medicine residency at NYU School of Medicine was where my passion for health equity began. At Bellevue Hospital, I treated some of New York City’s most vulnerable populations. I will never forget patients like the diabetic man who just arrived that morning from Africa with “Bellevue” scribbled on a Post-it note, or the heart-wrenching experience of informing a young woman who was experiencing homelessness that she had contracted HIV when she believed she only had the flu. I was driven to help patients in all areas of general medicine. Yet, it was treating patients with digestive and liver diseases that piqued my research interests and shaped my future career goals. After “Chief year,” I decided to pursue gastroenterology despite the odds: less than 35% of practicing gastroenterologists are women, and fewer than 5% are Black. Barnard taught me that there was power in my pursuit for greater representation of women in procedural fields. 

After completing my gastroenterology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I chose to remain in academic medicine. At the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, I serve as Director of Health Equity in Action for Liver and Digestive Diseases, spearheading health equity initiatives that help reduce barriers to colorectal cancer screening. Whether I’m mentoring trainees, leading community seminars, or performing procedures, I continue to carry Barnard’s lessons with me. Being Barnard bold means seeing the future you want, fearlessly pursuing it, and never forgetting to leave the blueprint for the next generation of women coming behind you. It is my hope that today’s students seize the opportunities a Barnard education provides, pursue career paths driven by their passions, and continue to dare to dream big.