The Making of A Doctor: An Interview with Dr. Lise Alexander

TC:  What were you doing before you became a doctor?

LA:  I was a photographer and I was actually doing very well. But an aspect of my life was missing, and I realized I wanted to make a difference. And I made a difference in a few families' lives by giving them beautiful photographs of one of the most compelling moments in their lives, the birth of their children. But, I wanted to make a difference in my community and I knew it was healthcare. And I thought it was medicine, but I wasn't sure. I still struggled with, am I smart enough? And I just decided that I had to try. It came down to I didn't want to be ninety years old and wish I'd tried. The worst that would happen is they would say no. But in the process of going down the road, the path, I would figure out what my true destiny was. And if it happened to be that I was lucky enough to be a doctor, great. If not, it would become clear to me as I went down that path what I really was destined to be. And I just got lucky.

TC:  So this path came to you later than most?

LA:  It did. I was quite old when I started. And part of it was just struggling with my inner demons of, why did I want to be a doctor when I wasn't comfortable with doctors? And I really had to process that. And, in the course of my photography business and my doula experience, I was able to work with family practice doctors that I really liked and respected. And I saw how they were making a difference in their community. And I saw that's where I wanted to be. And it was just like coming home. I saw the pathway and I had to try. And I started getting more and more involved in the Indian community in terms of healthcare issues, working with my tribe, working with the community I was living in at the time, reading more about healthcare, and doing my science courses.

TC:  Where was this?

LA:  It was down in Vancouver, Washington.