Healthcare Heroes at Stony Brook Medicine: Allison McLarty

"Excellence in medicine is critically important. I believe that in America, there is sometimes this impression that what is produced by black people is not quite as good. Of course, there are exceptions, but that’s the problem – excellent black doctors are often considered exceptions. Frankly, I find this to be offensive. I was raised to be the best that I can be without consideration of the color of my skin. However, I suppose I’ve always felt this extra responsibility to excel because I am black, so as to exemplify black excellence.

I think we are working towards a day when “excellence” does not need to be hyphenated by a race or ethnicity. I feel it’s part of my charge as a professional, teacher and mentor to emphasize the point that excellence is possible regardless of the color of one’s skin. So, to sum this up, I think black excellence is important, but I think excellence should not be defined by color.

We absorb our environment much more than we realize. What we see modeled before us imprints itself, therefore seeing one’s self represented really matters. For example, my mother was a working mom. She excelled in her career and was very well-respected. I saw her hard work and excellence while I was growing up, and it had a very powerful impact on me. When I became a cardiothoracic surgeon, there were few women, never mind black women, for me to emulate. But I had this image of a successful black female leader that I had observed throughout my life to guide me and that has been invaluable throughout my career. So I endorse the importance of having role models that look like us, even if not found in one’s specialty.

We are all standing on the shoulders of giants who came before us. It’s our responsibility to make sure we continue this important work for those coming after us."

-Allison McLarty, MD (Surgical Director, Ventricular Assist Device Program; Associate Professor of Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University)

Visit?stonybrookmedicine.edu/healthcareheroes?to hear from more of our Healthcare Heroes.