➜ WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
DR. SHEKINAH ELMORE
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about that,” Shekinah remembers. Around this time, she attended a lecture given by Dr. Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams, considered a nontraditional physician. (His life was made into a movie starring Robin Williams, with scenes that were filmed on UNC’s campus.) Something told her to speak to Dr. Adams afterward. “I had never heard a lecture like his,” Shekinah recalls. “I told him, ‘I was so moved by your talk, and it was so beautiful. … [And] I’m not sure whether I want to go to medical school or not. … But your talk showed me what it could be, to be a doctor.’” Radiation Oncologist and Assistant Shekinah says, “He was so kind,” and though she didn’t have Professor, Department of Radiation his book to sign, he wrote on a sheet of paper to her: “May I haunt Oncology at UNC School of Medicine your every compromise.” Dr. Adams’ advice “stuck with me all these years,” Shekinah says. “He was adamant about realizing you should do hen Dr. Shekinah Elmore whatever you have to do in life. [His advice is] about not giving up on was interviewing for jobs something you really want. … I’ve thought about a lot of after completing her my life decisions that way.” residency in the Harvard Shekinah, who is a cancer survivor herself, also says Radiation Oncology some of her own experiences while being sick as a child Program, she felt she could and a young person led to her interest in medicine and find the balance she wanted cancer care. She had always loved science, but she also in her life in Chapel Hill. wanted to administer care and empathy to patients “I’m very “I just love academic life. … during difficult times. excited about It’s very exciting,” Shekinah In her free time, Shekinah loves to visit the Chapel my work and my life – says. “I think there’s not a Hill Farmers Market and the Carrboro Farmers particularly better place than Chapel Hill Market with her husband, Adam Cluff, and their at this point for that.” She says she wanted son, William Elmore Cluff, who is 3 ½ years old. in my life. to find a “great academic She also spends time gardening, cooking and baking, ... I get to community … particularly a sometimes with William. “Cooking and baking are see patients who I take health care community that lovely activities to do at home, with a toddler, if care of. I get was dedicated to global health you’re not too attached to efficiency, but the joy of the to work on and health equity, and also process,” Shekinah says. these research a place where my family would She also enjoys giving back in different ways. “I do questions that be happy.” talks for community or student groups, particularly are my own questions that The radiation oncologist’s groups that center folks of color and Black folks,” I created.” work routine is a mix of research Shekinah says. “I [also] help people navigate college, days and clinic days. “I feel really medical [school] or residency applications. … I do a lot of lucky to have a pretty diverse set mentorship and try to connect people to opportunities of responsibilities,” Shekinah says. that are related to my day job, but not a formal part of it.” The clinic days can be intense, as she consults with patients going She’s generally a morning person and has embraced that attitude through incredibly difficult moments. “I’m an oncologist, so people even more over the years. “Medical training has made me that way, are at a really challenging time in their life, even if it’s relatively good but I like it,” Shekinah says. “Also, having a young kid has reinforced news I’m delivering,” Shekinah says. that!” She says her research and administrative days are a nice However, it’s the purpose within her work and personal life that complement. “They’re not always necessarily emotionally laden. … truly fuels her to start her days. “I get to see patients who I take They’re a mix of meetings and a time to take a step back and think.” care of. I get to work on these research questions that are my own Shekinah says. “The research times help me reflect on how I could be questions that I created,” Shekinah says. “I get to garden. I get to hang doing a better job in [the] clinic.” with my family and have dinner later in the day. I usually get Shekinah recalls a time in her life when she was a sophomore at up and [think] there’s always something exciting for the day.” Brown University, weighing medical school. “I felt very conflicted – by Elizabeth Kane 62
chapelhillmagazine.com
May/June 2022