What Do You Do?

I am asked this question at least twice a week; or this one, “what is your practice in?”. People know that I am a physician. They may even know that I am an OB/GYN. What stumps them is that I don’t go to an office daily, or take hospital call, or even wear a white coat. I did that already. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, it’s just time to do something else.

Practicing traditional medicine was too confining for me. I kept banging my head on standards of care,
protocols, contracts, and regulations. I was being suffocated. I’m a color-outside-of-the-lines kind of a woman. It took me years to realize that. I practiced medicine like a robot; follow the company rules, don’t shake the trees, cooperate and graduate, etc. That way of practicing was actually worked for me for a while, especially when I came out of residency. I didn’t have to think about how to act “like a doctor”. I had it modelled for me in my office and at the hospital. After practicing for several years like that, the springs and gears in my robot began to grind and stick.

There’s a popular quote by Mandy Hale on social media: “Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong”. That was me, my life. I was changing and didn’t know where I’d end up because I kept trying to fight the tide. Eventually, the noise and chaos became too much to ignore. In a world were women are generally not encouraged to put themselves first, I dropped off the scene for a while. It was time to take care of ME.

I’m back now; a new, improved, and authentic Dr. Tidwell. I can’t keep my gifts to myself anymore. My joy is in sharing them. Traditional medicine wouldn’t let me do that. SavvyLadyPatient.com is my labor of love. I have always imagined a business where I could communicate with and educate women in a way that’s not intimidating or overwhelming. I want to share what’s on my mind in a cozy and comfortable setting, not a sterile, impersonal exam room. We can genuinely relate without being constrained by time, office policies, or insurance policies. I envision SavvyLadyPatient.com as a haven of for women who want to take charge of their health care.

The evaluation of a medical condition is almost entirely based on what patients tell me. They talk. I listen. The exam itself is about five to eight minutes, maximum. The rest of time is spent listening to the patient’s concerns, discussing the possible diagnoses, reviewing treatment options, and answering questions. Because the communication factor is vital to disease management, I want to offer my SavvyLadyPatient.com community the option to work with me directly, one-on-one. Since one size does not fit all, as the saying goes, there are different levels of communication depending on the severity of the condition.

So, back to the question, “what do I do?”. At this point in my career, I’m not interested in “doing”. I want to BE. I am a physician, an OB/GYN, a mentor, teacher, guide, and advocate.

Peace.

Recommended Posts

Leave a Comment