Meet Vanderbilt’s First Black Female Neurosurgery Resident!
Tamia Potter made history as Vanderbilt's first-ever female Black neurosurgery resident. We spoke to her about the "Match Day" process, her pursuit of medicine, and how the South has shaped her life.
Tamia Potter is a force. Just ask Vanderbilt’s neurosurgery department, which helped her make history. The first-ever Black female neurosurgery resident at Vanderbilt (and the first in her family to attend medical school), Tamia’s success story circulated the internet and social media as we all rooted for her on “Match Day.” Born in Florida into a family of nurses, practicing medicine is in Tamia’s blood — and now, she’s pursuing her own passion in Nashville. Please welcome this week’s FACE of the South, Dr. Tamia Potter!
Can you tell us about your love of medicine and what drew you to neurosurgery?
Many of the women on both sides of my family are nurses. My mother was a nurse educator that went to different facilities, and I would go along with her and play with medical equipment and anatomy models. I then went on to do the Medical Academy at my local high school and became a certified nursing assistant. I worked full-time at night and loved the patient population that had neuropathology. I shadowed neurosurgeons at the institution where I was working and fell in love with the field.
How many programs did you look at, and what moved you to choose Vanderbilt?
I applied to 65 programs all over the United States, with an emphasis on Southern programs. I chose Vanderbilt because of the way I was treated. I rotated at Vanderbilt for 30 days prior to applying and fell in love with the environment and culture. I loved the respect that was given to every member of the team, regardless of their role. I was treated with respect, and I was not treated any differently being a woman or being an African American.
The percentage of Black female neurosurgeons is notoriously low. What challenges have you faced on the way to your residency?
Pursuing medicine is always a hard journey, but it can be particularly harder if you are a woman of color. The cost of a medical education is quite expensive, and there is no one to educate you on the hidden costs — such as away rotations, examination fees, and board prep — when you are the first in your family to attend medical school.
When you are a pre-medical student, the topic of discussion is admission; the rest, you worry about once you are in. I have had to juggle two to three jobs through the entirety of medical school to support myself and make sure I had the essentials for school as well as housing and food.
Stories abound regarding “match day.” What did that process and day look like, and how did you mentally prepare yourself for it?
The matching process starts with an application that is submitted to programs on September 15. The application consists of personal statements, letters of recommendation, research, board scores, and an application fee. From October to February, you interview with programs you applied to, then rank the programs you interviewed at. Programs then rank all applicants they interviewed, and an algorithm “matches” programs to applicants.
On Monday in the third week of March, applicants across the country find out if they matched; on the Friday of that same week, applicants then find out where they matched. I made sure my friends were available to share this moment with me, and I just told myself whatever location is in that letter is where God wants me to be!
You grew up in Florida, left the South to attend medical school in Ohio, and now you’re in Tennessee. How has the South shaped and influenced you?
It has always reminded me to be kind and think of people’s faults as situational rather than dispositional traits. The way I grew up in the South was always a positive and supportive environment; everyone treated each other like family, and there was always help. I try to keep these same values about myself regardless of the setting.
What are you looking forward to most about being in Nashville for your seven-year residency?
The food. I miss Southern-style cooking and culture!
Who are your mentors?
I owe it to Dr. Alexander Bricker and Dr. Tangy Wilder for getting me into medical school. Drs. Pablo Recinos, Varun Kshettry, and Pranay Soni for opening my eyes to research and making it possible at the Cleveland Clinic. I thank Drs. Krystal Tomei and Tiffany Hodges for helping me understand what it is like to be a woman in neurosurgery and how to navigate the field as a woman.
I also have to thank Drs. Robert Haynie, Edweana Robinson, and Todd Otteson. They were my family away from home and made sure I never went without; if I ever needed anything, they were always there for me.
Life as a medical student or resident is grueling — what do you like to do when you have time to yourself?
I love physical activity, powerlifting, and aerial dancing. I love, love, love to eat, so anytime I can get to a restaurant and try new foods, I love to!
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“If you give something or someone 100% of yourself, you will have nothing left for yourself. Give 99% and never let go of that 1%.” — Dr. Mildred Brickler.
Outside of faith, family, and friends, what three things can’t you live without?
1. Juice (I am just a really big kid)
2. Getting my hair done. Hair care for Black women is not just maintenance; it is your mood, personality, and livelihood.
3. Aerial dancing
Lightning Round:
Favorite Nashville restaurant: Hattie B’s
What’s one place in Nashville you can’t wait to visit? The Museum of African American Music
What book is on your nightstand? The Bible
What’s at the top of your travel bucket list? A tour of Europe — France, Italy, Greece, London
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Meet more dynamic and inspiring Southern women in our FACES archives!
Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Associate Editor and Lead Nashville Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.