DR. AISHA T. TERRY MD, MPH, FACEP - Emergency Physician, GWU Hospital
Dr. Aisha practices emergency medicine—meaning her schedule fluctuates just as much as the types of cases she handles on a day-to-day basis. In addition to taking care of patients at George Washington University Hospital and the Washington, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, she spends a significant portion of her days working on non-clinical tasks related to teaching medical students and conducting Board work for the American College of Emergency Physicians. Somehow in the midst of it all, she also managed to find time to be the CEO of the Minority Women in Science Foundation. Talk about a hustlin’ babe.
The Basics:
Hometown: Goldsboro, North Carolina
Current city: Washington, DC
Alma mater: Duke University
Degree: Medical Doctor (MD); Master of Public Health (MPH); B.S., Biology
Very first job: New York Fashions retail clothing store salesperson
Hustle: Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Health Policy, George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Attending Physician, George Washington University Hospital; Attending Physician, Washington, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Board Member, American College of Emergency Physicians; CEO, Minority Women in Science Foundation
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
I admire my late mother, Mrs. Ludia P. Burden. She was the most fearless, yet compassionate person I’ve ever met. She prioritized a lifestyle of poise and perfection. Her genuine kindness never ended and she gave new meaning to the phrase “work ethic.” She made everything she did look easy.
Best book you’ve ever read?
The Last Lecture
What’s the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Have no regrets.
Favorite place you’ve traveled to?
Bali, Indonesia
Favorite way to unplug?
Running
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
I don’t know that any day is “typical” or follows a set pattern. Being that I practice emergency medicine, my clinical shifts range from working days, evenings, nights, weekdays, weekends and holidays. In addition to taking care of patients, I spend a significant portion of my days doing non-clinical work related to teaching medical students and conducting Board work for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). What is predictable about all of my days is that they are packed with doing stuff: everything from caring for patients, having meetings, speaking at events, being interviewed by the media, working out, and cooking for my family. I don’t know that I ever have a “day off” wherein my activities are 100% leisurely. That said, I thrive off of being productive and using time wisely, so staying busy works for me. I am pretty good about setting boundaries, however, such that I insist on having some “me time” every day—usually in the form of exercise, great dining, and/or a glass of wine.
Have you always been passionate about medicine and healthcare? What led you to pursue this work?
The work of an effective emergency physician is in many ways like a calling, in my opinion. We are privileged with the opportunity to do good for literal strangers in critical need, every day. While that is an awesome responsibility, it also provides me with immense fulfillment and adds to my sense of purpose. Caring for the most vulnerable of populations who otherwise might have no alternative, is the aspect of emergency medicine that most inspired my decision to pursue it. Understanding the importance of proper training and mentorship is what influenced my decision to not only practice medicine, but also teach it. I love to teach! Even when I am physically and mentally exhausted, teaching fills my tank—every time—with spiritual fortitude and joy.
What are some notable experiences you’ve had on the job?
In my 17 years of emergency medicine practice, without a doubt, COVID-19 has offered the most notable experience thus far. For the first time ever, there have been moments when I feared going to work, primarily for the sake of my own safety and that of my family. My husband is also a frontline provider, which has added an additional layer of pressure in terms of us both seeking to keep each other safe from the virus—not wanting to infect each other—and staying healthy in order to be able to continue to serve the public. From being on edge about meticulously removing my work clothes before entering our house after a shift to avoid contaminating myself, to quarantining away from my husband for what seemed like endless days out of precaution, this time in history has truly been incredibly challenging, and on most days, unfathomable. We are getting used to this new normal, however, and as of late, truly taking it in stride.
What changes do you believe need to be made in healthcare, and where can we start?
Emergency departments are uniquely positioned as a barometer of the functionality and effectiveness of our healthcare system and society. I, therefore, personally believe that emergency medicine likely has the greatest opportunity of all other medical specialties to influence meaningful change relative to quality access to care and health equity. It is critical that we care and responsibly play our role for the greater good of society! Emergency docs see—up close and personal—the ravages of health inequities on people’s lives from all walks of life, every single day in our emergency departments. While the enormity of the problem is daunting, I don’t believe that excuses us from using our platform and innovative ideas to make our nation’s healthcare system the premiere vehicle of health promotion and maintenance that it should be. In doing so, I think it’s important to understand how diversity, disparities, bias, and the social determinants of health all relate and should be used in a complimentary fashion to re-design a care system that reaches far beyond the walls of the hospital, acknowledging that only about 10% of preventable death is a result of the medical care that we provide in the clinical setting. Emergency medicine has the opportunity to lead the way in implementing policy-based, systemic action plans which integrate the community and other health resources, by serving as a centralized hub where patient needs can be identified and addressed in a socially conscious way.
How have your job and roles differed from what they looked like before the pandemic?
I am unique in that I am not only a physician during this pandemic, but I am an emergency physician who is a woman of color with professional expertise in public health and health policy. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected physicians who practice emergency medicine and people of color. It also uniquely offers public health and health policy scholars a special perspective and opportunity of influence. Therefore, I now find myself wearing more hats than ever, proudly representing a greater diversity of groups, and constantly seeking effective ways to combat it through means outside of my clinical management of patients.
What are some ways that we can support those in your job/industry right now?
I anticipate that physicians will face major, perhaps long-term sequelae of mental health challenges and PTSD due to the pandemic. As a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), I am so grateful to be in a position to create and implement a strong, national advocacy agenda on physician wellness. COVID-19 has created an opportunity to take a serious look at the barriers to physicians’ access to mental health resources and the current structure of the healthcare system relative to promoting wellness. We absolutely must make this a priority today and in perpetuity.
How would you say being a woman has impacted your professional experience? What can we do to create more equal, uplifting (and well-paying!) spaces for women in your industry?
My being a woman has certainly impacted my professional experience. Perhaps that biggest influence relates to the glass ceiling phenomenon, which is this invisible, yet unbreachable barrier that blocks women and underserved populations from rising to the upper rungs of leadership and achieving elevated professional status, regardless of their qualifications, achievements, or effort. In order to surmount such barriers, my entire work mantra is often—consciously or subconsciously—centered around a commitment to being extraordinary and exceeding expectations. As a woman of color who is well aware of the glass ceiling, I approach every professional endeavor with the understanding that there is little to no room for error.
What’s one thing you wish the general public knew (or put into action) re: this pandemic?
I wish that people would have an “ah ha moment” wherein they realize and embrace the fact that the survival and success of humankind is inherently and inextricably linked to how well we care for and keep one another. The pandemic is a public health crisis—not an individual health crisis—that requires a coordinated strategy that connects individual well-being to that of the masses. We all fall or rise together.
Any last words of wisdom?
We are challenged to continue to strive to make our specialty, our practice, and our world a more equitable place, in order to provide our diverse patient population with the most culturally competent, minimally biased care that they need and deserve. What will you do? What are your next steps? Who will you bring along? What is your plan to help us get there together?
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