Repost from @callmeshainie • I am excited to share that I have joined the faculty of Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School as a spine surgeon in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. As the first black woman surgeon to be hired by any Harvard-affiliated orthopedic department, I recognize the great honor and even greater responsibility. There are so many people that have helped me get to this point. I first have to thank my chair Dr. James Kang for his vision and continued mentorship. Now comes the very worthy acknowledgements to my family. This is for my dad - a blue collar navy man - who instilled in me the values of hard work and responsibility. He always lead by example. This is for my mom who struggled with schizoaffective disorder yet always had the ability to fill a room with laughter despite her circumstances. She taught me patience, and seeing her navigate our broken healthcare system was my driving force for going into medicine. This is for my godmom Helen who exemplified unconditional love. She taught me how to love and care. This is for grandma who always stands up for what she believes in (right or wrong 😁). She taught me to be passionate about the things I believe in. This is for my great grandmother and great grandfather who grew up in the Jim Crow South and said they aspired to have a doctor and lawyer in the family. They taught me how to have a vision against all odds. This is for my twin sister (the lawyer) who works equally as hard and is always so fashionable when doing so. She and my brothers have always been my #1 cheerleader, and she taught me how to dress the part. This is for the < 3% women orthopedic spine surgeons, the < 1% black women orthopedic surgeons, and the abysmal intersection of the two. This is for any young person who may not see themselves in this space. Keep pushing. Here’s to continuing to break barriers and enjoying the journey while doing so. @brighamandwomens @harvardortho @ucsfmedicine @bwos2020