Hey Sis,

Today feels layered in the best way.

It’s February 3.
Black History Month.
And National Women Physicians Day.

First, let me say this clearly:

I’m Black 365. Always have been. Always will be.

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But I love the extra celebration that February brings. I love the intentional honoring. The spotlight. The remembering.

And today, I want to shine that light on women physicians.

Because here’s the truth: this system was not built with us in mind.

Women now make up about 38% of practicing physicians in the United States. Even though more than half of current medical students are women, we are still underrepresented in leadership, paid less on average, and more likely to experience burnout.

And yet… we are still showing up.

Not only showing up — excelling.

A landmark study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that hospitalized Medicare patients treated by women physicians had lower mortality and readmission rates compared to those treated by male physicians. In other words? Patients often have better outcomes when cared for by women doctors.

We have survived a system that wasn’t designed for us.
And we are still delivering exceptional care.

Especially for Black women physicians and women of color in medicine — navigating bias, invisibility, microaggressions, and the weight of being “the only one” in too many rooms — this day matters.

So here’s what I want you to do.

I know you know a woman physician.

Maybe she’s your primary care doctor.
Maybe she delivered your baby.
Maybe she’s your sister, your friend, your mentee.
Maybe it’s you.

Reach out to her today.

Send a text. Leave a comment. Say, “I’m proud of you.”

Because I promise you — she carries more than you see.
And your words will land deeper than you realize.

We are making history in real time.

And we deserve to be celebrated while we’re still here to feel it.

With pride,

Nikia