Standing on her Shoulders: Celebrating Meta L. Christy, DO, and African American Alumnae Trailblazers
Family Medicine Resident, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
鈥淲hen I walk into a room, especially if I鈥檓 not wearing makeup, most people think
I鈥檓 about 15 years old. But I鈥檝e dealt with that my whole life [Dr. Peterson started
college at age 15 and medical school at age 19]. Even when I introduce myself as Dr.
Peterson and they ask, 鈥榃here is the doctor?鈥� it has become natural to say, 鈥業t鈥檚
me, I鈥檓 the doctor.鈥� And then I tell them, 鈥業 get that a lot,鈥� because I want them
to know their judgments are not uncommon, and I move the visit along. 鈥� Unfortunately,
microaggressions are a common part of my career. A comment might be made because I鈥檓
a woman. I鈥檓 mistaken for a nurse at least once a week. (I want to be very clear:
There鈥檚 nothing wrong with being a nurse!) But my boyfriend is also a young physician,
and he鈥檚 rarely if ever called a nurse. 鈥� And then, I鈥檓 a Black woman whose white
coat says 鈥榦steopathic doctor,鈥� which I am proud of鈥攂ut the osteopathic distinction
is less common where I practice. 鈥� Thankfully, I have had 26 years to learn that other
people鈥檚 comments are a reflection of them, not me. One day I hope young Black women
DO doctors are so common, no one blinks when they enter a room. 鈥� When I鈥檝e told colleagues
about the racism or discrimination I鈥檝e experienced, some wouldn鈥檛 otherwise have
known, as I have come to believe a lot of Americans think racism is over. 鈥� The Black
Lives Matter movement has made people address many issues鈥攚hether they agree or don鈥檛.
I鈥檓 pleased that we鈥檙e all having more uncomfortable discussions about our prejudices.
鈥� People always ask how they can be an ally. Everything starts at home. You don鈥檛
have to lead a parade or feel like you need to be a superhero. The next time you鈥檙e
having a conversation and a questionable comment is made, ask that person, 鈥榃hy do
you think that?鈥� Your friends and family trust you, and you may be the only person
challenging them to think differently. I myself am learning more about different populations
during this time, and I hope it makes me a better family medicine doctor. 鈥� To me,
the beauty of family medicine is that you鈥檙e trained to see every age group. So someone
can tell their aunt, 鈥榃hen you have your baby, you can see my family doctor.鈥� That
network of trust means everything in medicine, especially as more people seek information
from unverified sources and place less trust in medical professionals. A strong patient鈥損hysician
relationship, with shared decision making, can favorably influence many health outcomes.
I think that鈥檚 a big theme for 2020/2021: working together for everyone鈥檚 best.鈥�
as told to Janice Fisher
Read more stories from African American female physicians, leaders and health professionals.
Digest, the magazine for alumni and friends of 黑料传送门, is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications. The magazine reports on osteopathic and other professional trends of interest to alumni of the College鈥檚 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and graduate programs at 黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia.
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