Standing on her Shoulders: Celebrating Meta L. Christy, DO, and African American Alumnae Trailblazers
Family Physician, Family Medical Associates Inc., Haleyville, Alabama
鈥淚鈥檓 a native of Birmingham, and I went to Spelman College, an all-female HBCU, in
Atlanta. Moving from the Deep South to Philadelphia to attend 黑料传送门 was a culture shock.
I loved having new experiences, meeting new people, eating new foods. 鈥� My elective
rotations helped prepare me for my future as a physician. I interned at Saginaw Osteopathic
Hospital in Michigan, and then spent the next four years in public health in Marianna,
Arkansas. 鈥� I moved to Haleyville, a predominantly white community, in 1989. Less
than one percent of the population is Afro-American. When the hospital hired a white
male DO, I learned he was paid $38,000 more than me. 鈥� Early on, a white male patient
refused to be seen when he realized I was Black physician. Another white male patient
said, 鈥業 told my ol鈥� doc that if there was an 鈥榥鈥� doctor in town, I鈥檇 go see that
鈥榥鈥� instead of waiting for him. So he gave me your location.鈥� Trying to persuade the
local schools to teach about National Black History Month or about Afro-American contributions
to the making of America was futile. 鈥� In 1998, my older son died at the age of 13.
Coincidentally, every year around the anniversary of his death, the school would call
to inform me that my remaining son鈥檚 braided hair was 鈥榯oo distracting.鈥� I decided
to send him to a more diverse school in Georgia. 鈥� I am the original founder of our
company. We now have two office locations with two DOs, two MDs, four NPs, and about
50 support staff. Our patients are white, and few are Hispanic. 鈥� I always sit down
to listen to what my patients have to say, and I don鈥檛 take notes while they are talking.
I want them to know they have my full attention. 鈥� There have been so many more positives
than negatives, like the elderly white gentleman who said, 鈥業鈥檝e watched you fight
and claw your way up to the top. I respect you and I love you,鈥� or the toddler who
licked my hand because he thought I was chocolate! There are a lot of 鈥業 love yous鈥�
said in my office, and they鈥檙e genuine. My patients love me and I love them. 鈥� Thirty-one
years ago, I was just passing through. After all these years, I guess I鈥檓 still just
passing through. 鈥� More important than the color of the physician is the quality of
care.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.