Chair and Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meharry Medical College

God has a way of putting us where we need to be. Although Gloria Richard-Davis might not have understood that as an adolescent, the wheels were already in motion for her to step into a medical career that would help thousands of women and her own family, as well.

 

"From the age of 12, I became interested in being a doctor and never entertained anything else as an option," she said. "My oldest sister was an Army nutritionist serving during the Vietnam War, and her boyfriend was a general surgeon," recalled Richard-Davis. "Jim's work of operating on wounded soldiers peaked my interest. At that time, I didn't notice that most doctors were men and white, as was Jim. It just never dawned on me."

 

Once in medical school, her very first clinical rotation was obstetrics and gynecology. "It was my first experience feeling like a doctor. I got to deliver babies and learned how to suture. I was overjoyed every delivery … even at two or three in the morning."

 

As an Army scholarship student, Richard-Davis spent 45 days on active duty between her first two years of medical school. During that time, she met another young medical student, Rodney Davis. "He was in medical school at the University of Arkansas; I was at LSU so we dated for a year back and forth between Little Rock and New Orleans." After asking her to marry him, Davis transferred to Tulane. "That's a big deal in medical school," said Richard-Davis.

 

The couple experienced multiple geographic separations in the first few years of marriage as each completed residencies, fellowships and their military obligation. While training, Richard-Davis worked with a medial endocrinologist conducting a study with fertility pills. She was instantly intrigued … Richard-Davis knew she wanted to pursue a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

 

Today, she is nationally recognized in the arena and has recently co-authored the book, Planning Parenthood, which is a comprehensive guide of parenting options for those struggling to start a family. Richard-Davis said she relishes the three hats she wears in academic medicine — doctor, teacher and researcher.

 

As a physician, she loves the hands-on work with patients and is exhilarated each time a couple achieves their dream of parenthood. Richard-Davis said teaching keeps her "mentally charged and challenged." Working with medical students, she noted, allows her to have some influence on the future of women's health. As a researcher, Richard-Davis recognizes how much work remains to address gender and racial disparities. She is also challenged by the sheer need that exists and the constant struggle to allocate resources to provide needed medical and social services.

 

Perhaps one of the reasons many of Richard-Davis' patients find her so empathetic is because she has walked in their shoes. She and Rodney, a urologic oncologist at Vanderbilt and chief of Urology for the VA Service, also faced infertility struggles. It took 10 years to conceive twins Madison and Morgan. The girls, now 10, are the absolute light of Richard-Davis' life. She noted the girls are complete opposites in their personalities and interests. As a unit, though, the family enjoys travel and being outdoors and active. "I also love the arts so every chance I get, I take the girls to live performances … sometimes much to their dismay," she added with a laugh.

 

From her personal contentment comes Richard-Davis' passion to holistically care for her patients … nurturing body, mind and spirit so that women and children have the best chance for optimal health.

 

"I don't expect I will find the cure to cancer or stop the aging process, but I do know I make a difference in women's and children's lives daily and that matters."