Building relationships with patients and their families

Dr. Sherrita Polk is an Oklahoma City native, an alumna of the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, and a Family Medicine physician. She is also mom to three busy children under the age of eight with one on the way! We caught up with her to learn more about her influences, motivation and how she juggles it all.

Why did you want to be doctor?
I knew that I wanted to help people and build relationships with them and their families. Growing up, I was surrounded by health care workers and medicine intrigued me.

As a child, did you see many physicians and health care professionals that looked like you?
I never saw physicians that looked like me. It wasn’t until I was in middle school/early high school that I realized I could become a physician.

Did that influence your decision to go into medicine?
Yes, I want to be that physician that inspires other young, minority, females that they can be whatever it is they want to be. They can even become physicians.

Were you encouraged to pursue medicine by teachers, professors, family and friends? If so, what did that mean to you?
I wouldn’t say that I was encouraged to pursue medicine, but I will say I did encounter a few meaningful teachers that were supportive once they saw my persistent determination.

Why is diversity important in medicine and health care?
Diversity is important in health care for better outcomes, better understanding and better representation of all individuals.

You have a very busy personal life as well! How do you manage it all?
Time management and the realization that I can only be one place at a time. It definitely requires prioritization of the important people and things in my life. Having a very organized daily schedule has helped tremendously to make sure that important events are not overlooked, or even missed.