As we celebrate Women's History Month, we wanted to take the time to highlight the incredible contributions of women in the medical field, particularly within ChenMed. The culture team recently had the privilege of facilitating a conversation with Dr. Melissa Chamblain, one of our female Primary Care Physicians (PCPs), and my own PCP through Team Care, a great service that team members at ChenMed have access to. We were blown away by what we learned.

During our conversation with Dr. Chamblain, we discussed her background as a black female physician and what inspired her to enter the healthcare field. Coming from a family of physicians, she watched her aunt, who studied medicine in Haiti, treat her patients which such care.

“[My aunt] oftentimes received so much praise from patients,” said Dr. Chamblain. “I believe she paved the way for me and my sister, who are both doctors, to enter the medical field as first-generation immigrants.”

We discussed the importance of diversity and inclusivity within the medical field. Dr. Chamblain emphasized the need for more women and people of color in leadership roles to help drive change and advocate for more equitable practices and policies within the industry.

Dr. Chamblain shared the uniqueness of ChenMed and how hiring diverse providers can lead to better health outcomes for our diverse patients. With over 60% of ChenMed’s providers being female, Chamblain explains why she believes female doctors should be at the forefront.

“We tend to be more empathetic, more detailed oriented, and more effective at communicating with patients,” shared Dr. Chamblain. “I love my male doctors, but today we’re talking about female doctors and representation is key.”

Using her interpersonal skills, Dr. Chamblain recalls caring for a patient who was distraught about her diagnosis of diabetes. Dr. Chamblain decided she wouldn’t “label” her as a diabetic, but instead, would proactively work on a plan to improve her overall health through nutrition and exercise. The way she approached the topic allowed the patient to change her mindset and become more comfortable with following Dr. Chamblain’s plan. Together after only two months, they were able to lower her blood sugar level from 500 to 100, no longer needing medication.

“Patients tend to trust doctors who look like them and have a similar background, whether it be age, race, ethnicity, or religion because we can relate to them,” shares Dr. Chamblain.

One of the most important things we learned from our conversation was the vital role of cultural competency and how conscious and unconscious biases can affect how providers care for their patients. As an example, she shares that female patients tend to be written off as having an emotional or psychological problem when in reality they could have medical issues that aren’t being addressed. She sees these same biases in the LGBTQ community, and even toward people who are overweight.

When asked what advice she would give to young women who are entering the medical field, Dr. Chamblain responded, “You are a queen. Period. There will be times when you will be the minority and you have to be comfortable with that. Seek out mentors and colleagues who share your values and can support you along the way. Don’t be afraid of speaking up and advocating for opinions. Stay true to yourself and keep moving forward.”

As my own PCP through Team Care, I can personally attest to Dr. Chamblain's incredible skill, knowledge, and compassion as a physician. She always takes the time to listen to my concerns and provides thoughtful and thorough care. Our conversation with her was a reminder of the incredible strength, resilience, and dedication that women like her bring to the medical field, and how important it is to continue to support and uplift them.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, let us not forget to honor the contributions and achievements of the amazing women within ChenMed and the medical field as a whole. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by them every day.