FEATURE: Fatima in Focus by Fatima Ibrahim

I was born on the west coast in California. I lived there for about one year and don’t remember much about California aside from the stories my parents shared about living there. When my family moved out of Orange County, we came to Phoenix, Arizona and lived there for several years. I remember the heat of Phoenix, warm walks around our subdivision, Avon parties, and how metal seatbelts warmed up by the sun would all but burn my fingers. When we left Arizona, I was about 7 or so. I was halfway through first grade and dreaded starting a new school in the middle of the academic year.

We moved to the Midwest and settled down in Illinois. Instead of living in the city, my parents chose the western suburbs where it was more peaceful, yet still lively. The suburbs had a nice selection of private schools that my parents were interested in for my brothers and I to attend.

Villa Park is the small suburb we lived in for a few years. I started attending a private Muslim school for grades first through twelve. I remember that first day attending my new school. I walked into class wearing a traditional kaftan that I chose for the first day. I remember feeling out of place among my new classmates in their school uniforms and instantly regretting my decision. Yet, by the end of my first day there, I had made a friend with a girl who sat across from me and my desk.

I spent twelve years of primary school there and overall loved my experience. Attending a private Muslim school placed my religion on a pedestal. It made my faith the foundation of my childhood and with classes like Islamic Studies and Quran class, it also taught me more about my faith on a regular basis.

Throughout the majority of my grade school years, I was often the only student of African descent in my class. At times,it felt isolating and at other times, it made me feel unique. Though, I did not always feel like I fit in, I felt connected to my classmates, friends and teachers through our shared faith and that was invaluable. During Ramadan, we all fasted together. During Eid, we celebrated together. And when one of the five daily prayers were due during the school day, we took a break from classes and prayed together. I thrived at school and participated in numerous organizations and some sports. There was the National Honor Society, Pep Club, Model United Nations, Mathematic and Robotics. I played on the basketball team as the center and joined a short-lived track team. Being a member of clubs and teams, helped improve my ability to lead and to also be a great team player. While I was in high school, my family moved out of Villa Parkland to another suburb. It was less than an hour away and we loved it. It was up and coming and full of new developments including a new hospital and later ona new glitzy library. It was also much more diverse than where we had lived.

My parents immigrated to America from Nigeria in the 80s. My father came to the states as a student with my mother alongside him. They came to the states in search of the American dream. My parents have always been very hardworking individuals. My father is a teacher and my mother is a healthcare lab technician. When I think back to my childhood, I remember how hard my parents worked to provide for my brothers and I. During the week they worked tirelessly; sometimes at multiple jobs.

I still remember the stories my mother would share with me of the struggles they experienced when they first moved to America as well as the struggles they still experienced. My fondest childhood memories include time spent with family and going on new adventures.

We did not travel often or have the typical family vacations of which I would often hear. Money was tight and traveling wasa luxury. But when we did travel, it stood out as a beautiful and joyful highlight in my young life. We traveled a handful of times, often by train or bus. The first time I took a plane ride was when I was in my 20s. The earliest trip I do remember taking with my family was to visit distant relatives. I was maybe eight or nine years old and was so glad to be on a new adventure and to be spending time with my relatives and people who belonged to a small family like ours. We took along greyhound bus ride from Illinois down to Tennessee to stay with my second cousins for several days. The highlight of our trips included visiting a nearby carnival and riding a horse drawn carriage.

Growing up, my parents and teachers had a great impact on my life. I watched and admired my parents with their jobs and their independence. They knew so much about life and were always sharing stories of their experiences as children,as black individuals, andas parents. I admired their wisdom, their education, and their clear sense of purpose.

I also really admired my teachers who spent their days dedicated to instructing my classmates and I; ensuring that we understood our studies.I admired their knowledge, their patience, and the joy they showed in being educators. I was a good student and excelled with their guidance. When I completed high school, I gave the Valedictorian speech and teared up.

I knew the role that everyone who supported me - from my parents to my teachers - had in my being there on that stage. I was leaving behind my childhood and entering adulthood. I was excited to start college and experience new things and meet new people.

When I was in high school, I became very interested in eye care. In tenth grade, I was tasked with doing a research project on a topic of my choice. At the time, I was thinking about my future and what I wanted to do with my life. Eye care intrigued me. I decided to make my research project about eye care and the different professions within it. I often think back to my father’s own career as a teacher and my mother’s job in healthcare as catalysts for my own love of sciences and healthcare. As a young bookworm, I was also very nearsighted and my trips to my local Optometrist was a clear gateway into the field. When I entered college, my interest in eye care grew.

During college, I attended a program for minority students like myself to learn more about what it takes to become an Optometrist. It was called Focus on Your Future and was held for one week at the graduate school I would later attend. During the program, I lived on campus and spent time with other minorities who were interested in healthcare, eye health in particular.

The program strove to increase representation of minorities in eyecare by exposing a group of us to the field and fostering a connection between us - the students - and the school. The program had a positive impact on my entrance into eye care and years after graduating, I spoke with the school’s magazine about my experience there and how useful I felt that Focus on Your Future was; especially for students who haven’t had the exposure to the school or field. I also participated in an organization called ‘Mission for Vision.’ Through it, I volunteered with the Chicago Lighthouse for the blind and visually impaired, collected used eyeglasses for the Lion's Club, hosted eye care professionals for educational talks, and more. I was also a member of organizations for Muslim students, for black students, and for students interested in fashion. While completing my undergrad, I started writing for my college’s fashion magazine and website.

After I received my bachelor’s degree, I studied for four years to become an Optometrist at the Illinois College of Optometry. As a student, I shared my own personal experiences as a student on the school’s website. After graduation, I shared my insights in my graduate school’s magazine. I shared my experiences as a minority student and as a professional currently in eyecare.

I started practicing in the city and appreciated how well my school prepared me for the transition from student to doctor.

I started off working with an optometry mentor at one of the clinics where I had rotated as a fourth-year student.

Later, I joined a new multi-clinic practice where I was the lead Optometrist at my own clinic. I practiced in Chicago for 3 years and lived in the heart of the city. During this time, I met and married my husband and we decided to move out of the Windy City to Dallas in 2019.

When I think about what I am passionate about, I often think of eyes and my love for eye care. I’ve always been intrigued by these small, yet intricate and complex structures with so many layers. To me, our vision is our most precious sense and being able to help people see clearly every day is a gift with instant gratification.

I have been practicing as a Doctor of Optometry for about 4 years now. What began with me as a patient in need of glasses to manage my own nearsightedness, blossomed into a love for caring for the ocular health and vision of my patients. For reference, without the aid of glasses or contact lenses, everything past 14 centimeters is blurry and out of focus for me. When I decided to care for the sense I myself cherished and desired most, I knew I made the right decision.

Since moving to Dallas, I have been working at a multi-clinic practice where I see and examine numerous patients a day. The workload is high, but I love being able to help my patients achieve their clearest and most comfortable vision while improving their overall health and wellness.

While practicing optometry, I continue to share my story and insights on social media along with eye health tips and a variety of lifestyle inspiration ranging from fashion and food to home and travel. Having an outlet for creativity and being a source of representation in healthcare -- and in all spheres -- has become very important to me. By sharing my own story and bringing my voice to the table, I know I’m paving the way for someone else like me.

The other day, I was conversing with a new friend who started following my story on social media. She shared with me that she was interested in eye care but never pursued it due to a lack of representation. She wished she had found me, a Doctor of Optometry, years ago; the fact that I am able to inspire her now is humbling. Much like her, I didn’t grow up knowing black, female, and Muslim doctors. In my graduating class in optometry school, for instance, I was one of only two black and female doctors; I was the only one who was black, female and Muslim. Growing up, none of my own doctors were black and female.

About 13% of all Americans are black, yet only 4% of all doctors are black. Black and female doctors make up just 2% of all doctors. It can only be assumed that doctors who look just like me make up even less of the population. Representation matters and is important for multiple reasons. Research studies have shown that when there is concordance between the race and gender of both the provider and the patient, there are benefits. A patient who is black and female paired with a doctor who is also black and female experiences more trust, better communication, and shared decision making in care. Minority patients benefit when they are cared for by doctors who are also minorities.

Research has shown the far-reaching impact trust between patients and doctors. In a study from Stanford of 1,300 black men, patients were 56% more likely to get a flu shot, 47% more likely to get a diabetes screening, and 72% more likely to get a cholesterol screening when their doctors were also black even though in this study, care by white and black doctors alike were scored the same. More diversity in healthcare results in safer, healthier, and stronger communities across the US. Most patients I see find the clinic through their insurance or via a local search.

Some, however, seek out doctors who represent them racially or culturally. Pairing patients with doctors who represent them is difficult when representation is low. Health in Her Hue is a new digital platform that allows patients to find member doctors who may represent them more easily. As a doctor with Health in Her Hue, I am glad to be more accessible to minorities. I have cared for patients who found me through the platform and was glad to provide them with the care they sought.

I see patients from all walks of life, and we work together to improve ocular health and meet visual goals. On a weekly basis, I interact with black patients who share how they take comfort in my presence and I’m regularly reminded of the importance of representation.

Representation matters to the mother and daughter who sought me out because they wanted to be treated by a doctor with shared experiences.

She trusted me and told me I reminded her of her daughter. We even spent extra time together at the end of her exam, as she told me about her family and how she wished her daughter had black female doctor role models earlier on.

Representation matters to the older gentleman who heaved a deep sigh of relief at the end of his exam; expressing how proud and privileged he felt to finally have a black doctor care for his health.

Representation matters to the middle-aged black patient who smiled widely and said that he never thought he would get the chance to see a black doctor in a predominantly white suburb.

Representation also matters to the young college student who sat in my chair with amazement in his eyes; it was his first time having a doctor who was black. He told me he was in college and he had never considered healthcare or being a doctor until now.

Representation is important for patient care. I’ve appreciated being able to have my own voice amplified through initiatives that seek to increase representation on social media.

This past year, Black Lives Matter has become a more well-known and supported cause and with it, more initiatives that help represent black individuals arose. Last year, I participated in Share the Medical Mic and joined a group of 20 different black female doctors. We each took over the social media platform of a corresponding white female doctor and extended our reach to many more individuals. The metaphorical sharing of the mic amplified more voices and allowed for more people to be represented.

Through social media, I have been able to share the things I love on a regular basis and also be a part of the movement to increase representation. As an ambassador for different lifestyle brands, I’m increasing cultural representation across healthcare, fashion, faith, etc. I hope to empower all women, especially black and Muslim women, to go after their dreams and live their best lives.

I hope to empower all women, especially black and Muslim women, to go after their dreams and live their best lives. Throughout my life, I have had a number of people influence and inspire me. At the top of the list, my mother has influenced my life, from childhood to now. She’s caring, nurturing, hardworking, outspoken and honest. She’s also amicable and joyful. Her character has influenced my personality and the compassionate individual that I have become. She’s also stylish and loves dressing well, something I’ve definitely picked up from her. Other women who have influenced me include public figures like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey and authors like Yasmin Mojahed and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. All of these women are strong leaders who sought out knowledge, gained success, and paved the way for other women.

Michelle Obama once said: ‘One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.’ It resonates with my own journey because it urges me to follow my goals and to walk in my own power; to be bold and courageous in the face of doubt and adversity. Realizing your goals, no matter how big or small, can be challenging. It requires persistence, being intentional, and constant motivation. I would tell anyone who comes to me for advice to go after your dreams to achieve your goals. Identify the goals you have for your life whether it be a personal health goal or a professional one like becoming a doctor. Outline plans for the steps it will take to reach the goal. There will be bumps along the way and may be moments when you want to give up.

Having support and guidance to help you reach your goals along the way is critical.Support may be in the form of a group or in the form of one-on-one mentorship. And with both, having representation can be a source of regular guidance and inspiration. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for assistance.

When I was in optometry school, I had a group of girlfriends with whom I studied. We leaned on each other through struggles and celebrated with each other’s victories right on up to receiving our doctorate degrees. Support at that time in my life was priceless. Now with social media, there are numerous ways one can offer and receive support. Sometimes simply observing someone you admire on social media taking steps toward their goals can inspire us to do the same. Through social media, I have been able to interact with a great deal of people, those who inspire me, those who support me, as well as those who I inspire and support.

Collaborating and working together allows us to grow and to thrive as individuals and as members of a larger community. My work as a content creator has given me the opportunity to connect with so many talented individuals. Having a group of supportive friends on social media presently has been great and I am definitely in favor of collaboration over competition.

Coming together for campaigns and initiatives is one way that I love supporting women. When we work together on these projects, we generate more ideas and often have greater success. In addition to this, there are so many other ways that I love to support women. Numerous women own countless businesses providing services like healthcare and products including clothing, jewelry, handbags, skin care, and beauty. It’s important to support their businesses by spending money on their work and products (especially minority women in small businesses). Numerous foundations exist that cater to bettering the lives of women across the globe through educational resources and monetary aid. Supporting these businesses with donations, volunteering, and by spreading their message is also important.

As a black, female, and Muslim doctor, I have experienced what it is like to be the only one like myself in the room. I have learned so much over the years navigating my own education and career, etc.

Know that whatever struggles you have as a minority, you are a strong, intelligent, & beautiful individual capable of achieving anything that you set your sights on. Focus on your goals and your ‘why’ and eliminate the noise.

The community of like-minded and inspiring women and friendsI’ve met throughout my life and on social media have also beensupportive and inspiring in their own ways.

I’m excited to be joining a group of strong and beautiful women featured in ELLA Inspires. I feel humbled to be a part of ELLA Inspires and grateful for this opportunity. I have several partnerships in the works and professionally, look forward to one day owning my own clinic as a Doctor of Optometry.

Fatima Ibrahim, OD, is a full-time Doctor of Optometry and a content creator. During her work week, she cares for the vision and ocular health of her patients. On the side, she curates an Instagram and blog sharing lifestyle content and eye health tips. Her goal is to represent all women, especially those who are black and Muslim, and to inspire women to live their best lives. Fatima is a wife and pink connoisseur with an eye for aesthetics.

Instagram @fatima.b.ibrahim