The Doctor on Call: SA’RAH MCNEELY
NICK MELE
Sa’Rah McNeely, 30, is a medical student training in pediatrics at Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine. Together with her husband, Emmanuel McNeely (who will complete his studies to become an orthopedic surgeon next year), Sa’Rah founded a pipeline program called the Dr. McNeely Dream (Dr. M.D.) Project, which seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minorities successfully entering the field of medicine. The Dr. M.D. Project offers workshops and a workbook that the pair co-authored; on top of study tips and mentoring, the curriculum contains the McNeelys’ own inspiring stories of overcoming challenges in their medical-field pursuits. Since its establishment, the Dr. M.D. Project has reached more than 2,500 students at schools and summer programs. In addition to her outreach initiatives, Sa’Rah conducts clinical research in pediatric sickle cell disease through a grant from the American Society of Hematology; she is also a National Health Service Corps Scholar, through which she has the opportunity to provide health care to underserved communities.
A fourth-generation Palm Beacher, Olivia Meyer, 28, has collaborated with local artists in cities around the world in creating Banniere, her own brand of silk scarves that are printed and hand-rolled in England. The artistic process begins when Meyer secures a new artist for a location, usually by word of mouth, and brainstorms with them to conceptualize a design. Inspired by her travels and the rich cultures she discovers along the way, Meyer has created scarves themed around locations from Aspen to South Africa. She sees the silk scarf as wearable art, a versatile accessory with a story. Passionate about reintroducing the classic silk scarf to a new generation, Meyer has partnered with hotels and boutiques around the world and hopes to expand her line into more custom silk work for clients, hotels, and private clubs. 128
PALM BEACH ILLUSTRATED
CHRISTINA CERNIK
The Silk Siren: OLIVIA MEYER