I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Carla Cork, Board Certified Family Medicine Physician and Licensed Educator. She practices all over the State of Indiana and is affiliated with Marian College of Osteopathic Medicine as an Assistant Clinical Professor where she helps train the nation’s future physicians Dr. Carla often speaks to local schools and church groups about careers in medicine, preventative health, lasting lifestyle changes, and health maintenance.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path as a doctor or healer?
“I was a bright-eyed, eager, take charge girl from birth! My mom told me I asserted my independence very early at the age of 4. I was always interested in science. I always wanted to be a physician. Being young and naive to the STEM/STEAM world, I never paid much attention to being “the only one.”
Meaning the only girl involved in all the experiments, labs, and other coursework or science related field trips. It was not until I was entering college, it was brought to my attention that the world I was about to enter was known as a territory for men. I was not afraid and had no intentions of quitting my desired course or giving up! I’d seen how lack of access to quality healthcare could take a toll on one’s life and change their life forever. I knew I had to follow my calling and use my gift from God to truly walk in my purpose and share my gift with the world!
Once I moved farther along in my educational journey, I met an influential director of medical education at a local hospital. When I solicited him to author a letter of recommendation, he sat with me and shared priceless feedback. He told me he could see I had what it took to become a physician. He told me to not ever speak or write passively again! He said once I was in front of the medical interview panel to make sure I conveyed all of my extraordinary skills. He reminded me I would be the only one in the room who could tell them how great I was and that I needed to do this kindly, but assertively! That was some of the best advice I could have ever received and has served me well to this day!”
How have your personal challenges informed your career path?
The diagnosis of my mother’s breast cancer and progression of the disease taught me a lot about the real working world. I learned even more about myself and my chosen field. I learned, from first hand experience caring for my mother, so much more about how insurance companies work and provide benefits for medications, home care, and medical equipment. I feel that all of these real life lessons make me even more relatable to my patient population. I do not take my gift lightly and do my best to be of great service to those who call on my services.
Can you share five pieces of advice to other doctors to help their patients to thrive?
Believe
Be Positive
Endure whatever comes your way
Prepare for your success
Trust and hold-fast to your dream of success through completion.
Can you share your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became a Doctor”
I did not know the true cost of my journey — financially until I was fully immersed.
The time commitment is life-long.
Becoming a physician is a labor of love with delayed gratification.
Medicine and caring for patients is only one small portion of my duties.
There is a different type and level of stress affiliated with this type of work.
Social media and reality TV create a venue for people to share their personal stories. Do you think more transparency about your personal story can help or harm your field of work? Can you explain?
I truly believe that the ability to share in social media helps the world to see physicians and other healthcare professionals as human beings. I express to my patients all the time a similar reality in my life or other situation to help them cope and realize they are not alone. I often use myself and a possible illness I may have or had to have treated to gain their buy in that the care plan is appropriate and no matter who the illness befalls will receive and should receive a certain standard of care.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant to your life?
To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required — Luke 12:48. This verse and quote have governed my steps daily. It is a constant reminder that I have been given a precious gift to heal and help others. I often say that if I’m not using my gift in love to honor and glorify him by caring for those who are injured, I’m not doing it right.
We don’t have to be smarter than the rest! We have to be more disciplined than the rest! — Warren Buffet. This to me is simple. Keep pressing toward your goal. You only need one yes. Then, show them what you’re made of!
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
A movement of kindness, mutual respect, and understanding. I think that when people stop and reset and listen to one another and truly get a full understanding they can find a common ground through kindness and mutual respect. I also aspire to inspire all people to gain some type of education to discover or improve upon their given talent and follow their dreams. Especially if “no one else is even doing it!” One will never know how great they are or can become unless they try. Follow your dreams, complete those, and make new ones!
How can our readers follow you on social media?
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This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!