Growing up was not easy. Camden, an inner city in southern New Jersey, is known for its abject poverty, constant violence, and drug trafficking and has been notoriously labeled as one of the “most dangerous cities in the US.” It is a daunting place for many, but home for me. My story is one of a single mother high school dropout with eight children, who worked tirelessly to provide my siblings and me with more advantageous circumstances than she had.
Dr. Samantha Lee
They say “home is where the heart is.” I guess this old statement holds true in my case when I think of why I choose to return to Camden for my residency training at Cooper Hospital. Driving to work in Camden is always a memorable event for me. With every corner and bend in the city, I get a short trip down memory lane. I remember fondly walking to the corner store to buy candy with quarters that my sisters and I dredged up from our couch cushions.
Sundays were my favorite days growing up. We all woke up very early with the singular purpose of getting ready for church. As a child, I loved the attention we all gave each other, especially on Sundays. My siblings and I squabbled and played pranks on each other all morning to my mother’s displeasure, but, somehow, we always made it to church on time, dressed in our Sunday best. After church, our home was filled with hours of laughter, good food, and games only children knew how to play. Our house was always a second home to other kids from our block and friends of my mother who stopped by to try her famous chicken dishes. The days always had the feel of a fun holiday, like Halloween, or Christmas without the lights. It is important that people don’t see Camden as a stereotype, as it has more to offer than murder stories, stray cats, and drug dealing. I am a product of this city.
Dr. Samatha Lee's medical school graduation photo.
Embarking on pulmonary-critical care medicine is my next chapter. I see the scourge of pulmonary disease in my internal medicine clinic and am looking forward to arming myself with the knowledge to ease my patients’ burdens. Furthermore, I relish the opportunity to learn how to organize a chaos-filled room into an efficient, harmonized resuscitation situation. The process encourages teamwork, mindfulness, and empathy while being a scientist for the sickest patients in the hospital. These are all fundamental qualities I’ve strived to develop over my maturation as an internal medicine resident and traits I’ve also gained through my various life experiences. I am certain that no other field of medicine would better position me to serve in the broadest sense as a clinician, and I am sure that my life experiences will complement my scientific skill set.
It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Who knew that someday, I would be able to help repay Camden for nurturing me as a child. I am ready for my new challenges and to embark on this new, pulmonary-critical care medicine chapter in my life.
Dr. Lee is an internal medicine resident at Cooper University Hospital at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ.
Editor’s Note
Dr. Lee’s thoughtful piece about why she chose to go into pulmonary–critical care medicine is both inspiring and insightful. She deserves commendation for her willingness to share her story, and I am humbled by her words.
Nitin Puri, MD, FCCP, is the editor of the Pulmonary Perspectives section of CHEST Physician.