In the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Resurgens Orthopaedics proudly boasts a trailblazer among its partners – Dr. Lattisha Bilbrew, a remarkable Orthopaedic Surgeon whose expertise lies in Hand and Upper Extremity surgery. What sets Dr. Bilbrew apart is not just her skillful hands but also her groundbreaking achievement as the first Black woman Orthopaedic Surgeon to attain partnership status within the esteemed institution. Behind this remarkable feat is a journey that spans continents and generations, and is rooted in a passion to challenge disparities in healthcare and be a beacon of change. Not only has she maintained historical professional achievements within the healthcare industry but within her personal legacy as well; being the first physician in her family. Being a descendant of Jamaican-born grandparents who migrated to England shortly after World War II cemented her path towards medicine after migrating to the U.S. in 1995. She continues to challenge and develop herself both personally and professional as one of the only five practicing African American female Orthopaedic surgeons in Georgia.
Q: What does that mean to you as one of the few Black woman in this industry? What does that representation mean?
A: I think it gives me a sense of responsibility and ownership. It is wonderful to walk into a room and say, you know, “I am one of five Black orthopedic surgeons in the state of Georgia.” There’s less than 100 of us worldwide. But after a while, that loses some of its gleam and glitter and I start to focus on how can I get other people into the position where I am. So being one of few, it affords me the responsibility to bring others into the same arena. Now, when I speak with other minorities, or women — my mentees — I’m encouraging them that the journey is well worth it when you are treating patients who say “I’ve never had a Black woman, Orthopedic surgeon.” I hear that on a weekly basis and sometimes even with tears in their eyes. So, it’s such an honor, and I want others, especially little Black girls, to realize that this is something they can do. Just because you haven’t seen someone in that position doesn’t mean that you can’t do it too.
Q: Who are some of the women in your field that you most admire?
A: I admire my contemporaries. I admire the other Black female Orthopedic surgeons, starting with the first, Dr. Claudia Thomas. I think it’s amazing to say that the first Black female Orthopedic surgeon is alive and that she just stopped practicing a few years ago. It’s amazing that I see her every year at our annual meetings. We’re like our own little sorority because we’ve all been through a similar experience. But it’s also sad sometimes to hear Dr. Thomas talk about the difficulties of sexism, racism and ageism that she encountered so many decades ago and that’s my story too. The goal is to not let that be the story of a Black woman going through Orthopedic surgery training. The story should be: I’m an orthopedic surgeon. Not I’m a Black woman, Orthopedic surgeon. So the moment that we can take that out and just be what we are, and what we do for our community, is the moment we’ve made it.
Q: How do you stay balanced being so multi-faceted?
A: I love that question! The first thing is that Orthopedic surgery doesn’t feel like work to me. And so when I’m talking to different people pursuing career paths, you want to pursue something that when you’re done with your training, it doesn’t feel like work. Because it doesn’t feel like work, I have so much bandwidth to pursue so many different things. In order to do that, there’s a few other things that have to be in place. Number one: I think physical fitness. If our body is not functioning, then up here [the mind] isn’t going to function. For me, working out three to four times a week, keeping my body in tip-top shape, because God only gave me one, is essential. I think there is also a spiritual component, and that’s whether you believe in a higher being or not, but you have to have a sense of peace. If you are stressed, and you are not in a peaceful situation, you’re not going to function either. The other part of balance is the financial aspect which is getting your funds and your finances in order. That does not mean that you have to make $300,000 a year. When you’re able to control the physical, the financial, and the spiritual aspects of your life, everything lines up, and you’re able to do what God, or whoever you think is in charge, is meant for you to do.
Q: What would you say is your superpower?
A: My perseverance, that is my superpower. I know how to keep going. When 100 other people would have stopped. I know how to encourage myself when I’m down and out. I know how to pick myself up to see the brighter side of the situation. I think that’s why a lot of people never accomplish their goals. They stop because someone else tells them ‘No’. Or they stop because they tell themselves ‘No’. And I never take ‘No’ as an answer. My younger self never doubted me. I say that with confidence that I’ve always known. And I’ve always believed in myself, even when other people didn’t. So I would tell my younger self, ‘Yes, you got it. Keep going!’
Explore more about Dr. Lattisha Bilbrew:
Website: Drlattishabilbrew.com
Facebook: Lattisha Bilbrew
LinkedIn: Lattisha Bilbrew
Instagram: @lattishabilbrew_md
