Dr. Tamia Potter is sharing some advice and insights she’s gained along her path to becoming one of the few Black neurosurgeons in the country.
Potter is set to make history as the first Black woman neurosurgery resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She announced her acceptance into the program in March.
Her achievement comes as the medical profession continues to face a serious diversity issue — with just 0.6% of neurosurgeons in the United States being Black women.
Speaking to Teen Vogue, the native of Crawfordville, Florida, talked through her journey to becoming a neurosurgeon and some of the lessons she’s learned along the way.
Potter admitted that she “sacrificed a lot” in undergrad as she studied and worked hard to achieve strong enough grades for medical school.
“I do wish I could go back to college and have the fun times, go stay out late, and do all the things that college kids do,” she said. “But people hold doctors just to a higher standard, naturally. And that means that some of the things that are acceptable for other people are just viewed in a different light for us.”
That higher standard regularly faced by Black doctors also informed her own viewpoint on her Black womanhood in a career field where Black women are greatly underrepresented.
“The best strategy is to focus on yourself. Whenever you go into a space that’s unfamiliar, you’re more likely to focus on everything around you instead of understanding why you’re supposed to be there,” she said.
Potter shared that she dealt with doubts once she entered medical school and feelings that she “was not supposed to be there.” Focusing on the importance of her own talents and achievements helped her shift her perspective.
“I was so intimidated. I thought all these people were smarter than me; they came from Ivy League schools,” she said. “But then I focused on myself and realized I passed that test, too. I did well with my grades, too. I’m getting good feedback, too. As you continue to do what you came there to do, your work speaks for itself.”
Potter credits her time at Florida A&M University as helping her build communication and networking skills that have aided her throughout her time in her medical school programs. This includes her comfort asking for help when she feels she needs it.
“Going to an HBCU feels like you’re just at a very large family reunion and you’re learning at the same time,” she said. “I was never afraid to ask a question. I was never afraid to ask for help. And I think I brought that with me to medical school. No matter where I’m going, I know that I can ask the people around me for support when I need it.”
And when it comes to staying aligned with her career goal of being a neurosurgeon, Potter revealed that she has been able to remain focused by making sure “all the other tasks in my life revolve around my one goal.”
“I have three jobs currently while in medical school. I have to support myself financially. All my jobs — volunteering, tutoring, or teaching — are very similar in nature and they are goal oriented towards neurosurgery,” she said.