As an aspiring obstetrician-gynecologist, my focus is to make my patients feel secure under my supervision, advocate for their needs and rights, and be a positive agent for change in women’s healthcare. Women’s health was the easiest yes for me: growing up in a family of strong women, I witnessed firsthand the impact of women in unity and the support they offered each other. Moreover, the comfort and compassion I felt when I saw my first black, female healthcare provider will forever be engrained in my heart. Because of the efforts, knowledge, and skills, STEM is instilling in me, I am indebted to pay it forward as a professional. As a women’s health provider, I will use my biology education to promote a more just and humane society in OB/GYN and reproductive health policy. Women’s health and reproductive rights have been under the oppression of men since the assent of human existence. In B.C. and A.D., the worth of a woman’s body was determined by how many children she was capable of bearing. Throughout the mid-1800s, Dr. James Marion Simms exploited the reproductive systems of enslaved black women to establish groundbreaking procedures. Presently, the United States Supreme Court is making strides towards overturning Roe versus Wade, potentially making abortion care less accessible. These events are not even a fraction of the many instances covered up by the media, major corporations, and other outlets. Regardless of personal perspectives on these matters, one truth stands alone: we are dividing ourselves as a society instead of unifying for the greater good. Stripping women of their amendment-bound rights affects more than the intended demographic; generations to follow are left to clean up the mess we are leaving behind. I cannot change the past, but what I can do is utilize my knowledge in biology to support autonomous initiatives in obstetrics and gynecology. Robert K. Greenleaf states that “Good leaders must first become good servants.” As an undergraduate student, I am already serving my future patients by taking the time to put consistent efforts into my studies. I am taking the first steps necessary to be a successful, competent medical student, resident, and board-certified physician by actively engaging in my biology classes. Surface-level knowledge is mediocre, and my university continuously pushes me to approach my studies with integrity and perseverance. Being intentional with my matriculation in biology has strengthened my understanding of many scientific realms. Therefore, I am able to approach conversations surrounding biological disciplines with confidence and assuredness. One of my favorite adages in life is to walk in my word: I constantly say that I want to be an agent of change and an advocate for women’s health, but how do I showcase that? This summer, I have the privilege of participating in research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a concentration in renal biology and diseases. By conducting research in renal biology and diseases, I am strengthening my foundation in biological studies and education on physiological mechanisms of maternal mortality. Furthermore, this opportunity will help me connect with professionals in the field of obstetrics and gynecology that will guide me through making strides toward promoting a more just and humane society in healthcare. As I continue advancing my biology education, I am constantly reminded of why I chose this path. Yes, I aspire to become an OB/GYN and provide equitable, compassionate, and comprehensive care to my patients. However, I am pursuing this route because I genuinely want to see our community more unified.

Like most African Americans, having a black healthcare professional oversee my care was rare. I never really thought too much about it until a few years ago: I was sitting in the CVS Minute-Clinic waiting room to get my annual sports physical done. To my surprise, the nurse practitioner who called me back was a black woman. Throughout my appointment, I felt understood and valued simply by the way she looked me in my eyes. From that moment on, I decided that I want my patients to experience the same kind of empathy and compassion I did then. The birthing experience in the United States and its connection to the black community undoubtedly struck my interest in healthcare. For a very long time, I’ve bounced between the idea of going to school for midwifery or becoming an obstetrician-gynecologist. Since the advent of mankind, midwives were the standard practitioners for maternal health; it was even more common among countries with populations of African descent. Although the world has made impeccable advancements in healthcare since then, the practice of midwifery started becoming taboo over time. I’ve spent years, and I truthfully mean years, researching the development of this new normal and its ties to the current maternal health crisis in the United States. My findings ultimately resulted in my “split-fence” stance on my future profession; I knew that I had a passion for women’s health, wellness, and education, but I wasn’t sure which career best aligned with my desires. I felt this way for years until I came across a news article discussing how a black OB/GYN addressed the pandemic-heightened maternal health crisis by implementing midwifery standards into her practice. Dr. Nicola Pemberton, medical director of The Birth Center New Jersey, is a board-certified OB/GYN who exemplifies woman-centered care while upholding ACOG-regulated standards. Because of Dr. Pemberton’s story, I finally felt confident in my strides towards becoming an OB/GYN whose practice is rooted in the collaboration of holistic and modern healthcare. A question that I often get when I tell others I am a pre-medical student is, “why medicine?” Well, in order to properly answer that question, let’s take it back a little: my family produces a lineage of resilient women; no situation has ever been too hard for us to overcome. Growing up in a single-parent household has opened my eyes to a lot of realities. Throughout my childhood I watched my mom work tirelessly to provide for me while tending to her desires as well. She is one of the many women in my life who has not only inspired me to pursue a career in STEM but also instilled in me to never let fear or adversity stop me from reaching my goals. It has been a blessing to witness the effects of women building up women and showering each other with love. As an aspiring women’s healthcare provider, my professional goal is to increase access to opportunities for black and brown birthers to be more seen, heard, and valued throughout the span of their care. I wholeheartedly understand that there will be days on my journey when I question my purpose for this pursuit. In fact, I have already proposed these questions to myself. However, my support system of advisors, mentors, friends, and family continuously keeps me encouraged. As my mom would say, “Nothing in life worth having comes easy,” so I know that even though it may get rough, I will overcome as I always have.

The grass is green and the sky is blue. Others could say I’m wrong, but what if I told you what I”m saying is true? A woman of valor, strength, and education is who I am and who you may perceive. Yet, the tired, beaten, and bruised version of Aryan is in fact there, but you’re not allowed to see. Being a black woman is almost a fight every day. When I wake up, I am often critiqued about the clothes I wear and how I style my hair. Is it presentable? Does it represent me well? Am I advertising myself to be a woman who is well-respected, or instead, someone who is “asking for it”. When I leave my home, I have to be careful about how I walk and talk. I can’t walk with a twist because, then, I’m fast. I can’t speak passionately because, then, I’m seen as a threat. When I go into educational spaces, I’m often underestimated and undermined: Am I really qualified to be here? Do I actually know what I’m doing? Should I just move out the way? Could I just be overexaggerating these things in order to play the victim? Are any of these presumptions true, or am I feeding them to myself due to society’s insecurities being overtly projected onto me? The melanin in my skin is a blessing, but the immature version of myself often saw it as a burden. As a scholar in STEM, I’ve often felt unqualified compared to my white counterparts. On numerous occasions, it seemed like I’ve had to work harder than my peers just to get half the recognition as them. Although these trials were challenging, they have not prevented me from reaching higher grounds and achieving my goals. For years now, I have identified my purpose: unifying my community by becoming an OB/GYN and providing full-spectrum, premium, comprehensive healthcare. Aside from becoming a physician, I will attain a midwifery license to diversify my future pursuits. I intend to start my own practice specifically to educate, edify, and unify those who have been marginalized for far too long. My goal is to make every black woman aware of her options, empowered in her decisions, and in control of her body. Additionally, I want to inspire young black girls to see the person they want to become through me and encourage them to make their mark on the world. Ultimately, I am striving to be of service to black women along their personal journeys, starting with the healthcare they receive. I truly want to empower those who have not been uplifted in a positive way. As the late Mahatma Gandhi said, “be the change you want to see in the world,” and that is exactly what I will do. My purpose in this world is bigger than myself, and I will continue to persevere, regardless of adversity, to see it happen.