On foregoing residency after medical school to lead Freedom Community Clinic: A convo w/ Bernie Lim

Woke WOC Docs

It's been a minute since we published an episode! In this episode, we have an intimate conversation with Bernie about her decision to not go to residency after medical school to lead the Freedom Community Clinic. Facilitated by Nicole and questions from the audience, Bernie talks more about her journey of coming to that decision while in medical school, her thoughts on the limitations of the medical system and changing from within, and why we need to imagine and create new systems like the Freedom Community Clinic to provide the healing and care that our communities deserve. 4:00 An overview of Bernie's journey to not go to residency and lead Freedom Community Clinic in Oakland 20:00 On the emotional journey and hardship of deciding to not go to residency 24:00 On Bernie's thoughts and pushback on being our "ancestors' wildest dreams" 26:30 On what Bernie will use her MD for/how medical school was valuable for her life journey 28:50 On why we deserve to lead and create our own systems when the majority of hospital CEOs don't even have MDs lol 29:50 On why Bernie cannot be part of DEI recruitment efforts for medical school 35:00 Conversation between Nicole and Bernie on what is healing; influential books, people, habits; and why institutions don't wanna see you rested and healed 45:30 On building community relationships and Freedom Community Clinic while in medical school 50:20 On patient relationships at Freedom Community Clinic vs. the hospital 51:20 How leading Freedom Community Clinic has changed Bernie's perception of healing and community 53:40 Nicole and Bernie's advice on pursuing creativity while in medicine 56:30 Bernie's future plans and dreams 1:00:32 Bernie's thoughts on self-mentorship 1:05:00 Q&A on mentors outside of medicine, why we cannot let these institutions silence us, and tapping into our aliveness Recorded on Sept 30, 2021